Facial Palsy (Facial Paralysis)
What is Facial Palsy?
The term facial palsy generally refers to weakness of facial muscles, mainly due to temporary/permanent damage to facial nerve.
When a facial nerve is damaged and becomes non-functioning, muscles in the face do not receive necessary signals in order to function properly. This results in paralysis of affected part of face, affecting movements of eye(s)/mouth and other areas.
3 different types of facial palsy:
- sometimes only lower half of face is affected
- sometimes one whole side of face is affected
- in some cases both sides are affected
What causes Facial Palsy?
There are many different causes of facial palsy. Treatment & prognosis vary depending on cause. Some of main causes are:
- Viral infections
- Middle ear infection
- Stroke
- Traumatic injury
- Birth trauma
How does it feel?
IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY TYPE OF FACIAL WEAKNESS, SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY
- Pain in the ear, cheek or teeth – Loss of facial sensation
- Vision changes – Headache
- Inability to close the eye or blink – Drooling
- Teariness or dryness of the affected eye
- Sensitivity to sound Drooling – Difficulty speaking, eating, drinking
- Loss of forehead wrinkles
How Physiotherapist helps:
Your physiotherapist will –
- Educate you on how to protect your face and eyes.
- Show you how to manage daily routine functions.
- Teaching facial exercises: Initiation exercises taught in the early stages, will help trigger the facial muscles to initiate movements. Facilitation exercises are taught once you’re ableto initiate movement of the facial muscles. These exercises increase the activity of the muscles & strengthen the muscles.
- Improve co-ordination of facial muscles.
- Electrical stimulation therapy is used to reduce pain, regain the mobility & activate muscular contraction.
- Massage to weak facial muscles helps to maintain circulation & mobility of facial muscles.
- Kinesio Taping helps to stabilize the weak muscles by providing external support. Also helps to lift up the weakened muscles.
If you are troubled with any of the above symptoms, reach out to us at –
Pooja Physiotherapy & Health Care Center
Blk 77 Indus road #01-521S’160077
Call now@ 6384 5452 or Whatsapp@ 8322 3371 or
drop an email at info@physiopooja.com.sg
