• 10 Feb 2022
• |
• By Admin

Facial Palsy And Bell's Palsy: Causes, Symptoms & Role Of Physiotherapy In Treatment

Share :

Bell’s Palsy and Facial Palsy are neurological disorders that can lead to facial paralysis and other conditions.

In this blog, we will discuss the causes and symptoms of Bell’s Palsy, Facial Palsy, and find out how Physiotherapy can be used to improve the patient’s conditions.

What Is Bell’s Palsy & Facial Palsy?

The name Bell’s Palsy comes from the 19th-century Scottish anatomist and surgeon Sir Charles Bell, who accidentally found that by severing the seventh cranial (or facial) nerve, facial palsy is caused.

In the case of Bell’s Palsy, there is an inflammation around the facial nerve, and this causes facial palsy around that area. Meanwhile, facial palsy is a similar condition, but involves only one facial nerve, and is considered more acute.

Bell’s Palsy is the most common reason for acute facial palsy.

Cause Of Bell’s Palsy and Facial Palsy

The exact cause that triggers Bell’s and Facial Palsy is still unknown, and this is the reason they are known as an idiopathic condition.

However, some theories and researches point out viruses such as herpes and influenza, and respiratory tract infections, that can cause the facial nerve to compress, which eventually results in facial and Bell’s palsy.

Symptoms Of Bell’s Palsy and Facial Palsy

• Partial or full paralysis of usually one-half of the face
• Inability to close the eyes at the impacted side
• Drooping at the impacted side (depending on the severity)
• In some cases, both the sides of the face are impacted
• An altered sense of taste is a common symptom
• Sensitivity to loud noise
• Drying of the eye on the impacted side
• Difficulty in eating, speaking, sleeping, drinking
• Streaming nostril on the impacted side

Role Of Physiotherapy In Treatment Of Bell’s Palsy & Facial Palsy

With regular physiotherapy, Bell’s Palsy and Facial Palsy patients can experience enhanced muscle strength, which helps in the healing process.

Besides, exercises help the patients to regain facial coordination and help the patient to recover from facial paralysis in a gradual manner.

Important Note: During the early phase of Bell’s or Facial Palsy, the most important thing to do is, check if the patient is taking care of their eyes or not (in the impacted side).

Since the facial nerve produces lubrication to the cornea, patients can get dry eyes, which can lead to corneal ulcer and eventually damage to the eyes.

Expert physiotherapists will make sure that such a condition doesn’t arise.

Physiotherapy Techniques For Bell’s Palsy & Facial Palsy Patients

• Trophic electrical stimulation (TES)
• Neuromuscular retraining (NMR)
• Kabat technique
• Electromyography (EMG) and mirror biofeedback
• Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques
• MIME Therapy, which can include self-massage, breathing and relaxation, eyes and lip closure exercises, exercises for letter, word and facial expressions, exercises to enhance coordination between both sides of the face and to reduce synkinesis

However, these physiotherapy exercises should be conducted under the guidance of a certified Physiotherapist, who will first diagnose the condition, and accordingly suggest the best way forward.

Consult with our UK-trained and certified Physiotherapists at CureNow Wellness, and start the healing process today.

Our address:

CureNow Wellness Pvt. Ltd.

F-Residences, Shop # 25, First Floor, Wadgaon Sheri, Kalyani Nagar Annexe, Pune - 411014, Maharashtra.

Contact : +91 9545345300