Facial Palsy Physiotherapy Treatment

Facial Palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) that result in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side.

Facial Palsy Causes

Varcella-zoster infection

Myasthenia gravis

Epstein-Barr virus

Multiple sclerosis

Middle ear infection

Guillain –Barre syndrome

HIV infection

Tumour causing nerve compression

Lyme disease

Pregnancy

Sarcoidosis

Stress

Trauma to facial nerve

Viral infections such as herpes, mumps, influenza, a cold, infectious mononucleosis

Metabolic and emotional disorders

 

Environmental factors( cold climates)

 

 

Facial Palsy Symptoms

  • Symptoms most often start suddenly, but may take 2 – 3 days to show up. They do not become more severe after that.
  • Symptoms are almost always on one side only. They may range from mild to severe.
  • Sometimes person may have a cold shortly before the symptoms of Bell’s palsy begin.
  • The face will feel stiff or pulled to normal side, and may look different.
  • Difficulty eating and drinking; food falls out of one side of the mouth
  • Unable to close one eye.
  •  Sound that is louder in one ear (hyperacusis).
  •  Twitching or weakness of the muscles in the face.
  • Drooling due to lack of control over the muscles of the face.
  • Drooping of the face, such as the eyelid or corner of the mouth.
  • Problems smiling, grimacing, or making facial expressions.
  • Dry eye or mouth, headache, twitching of facial muscles.

 

Facial Palsy Physiotherapy Measures
      Modalities  for stimulation of denervated muscles  in order to reeducate the functions

 

  • Soft tissue techniques are implimented  to recovery to help prevent permanent contractures of the paralyzed facial muscles.
  • Taping technique.
  • To maintain muscle tone of the affected facial muscles by  doing facial exercises in front of mirror