Many patients benefit from dedicated facial nerve physical therapy during the period of weakness following a facial nerve insult, or for the management of long-standing facial synkinesis. After a facial nerve insult, such as Bell’s palsy, we frequently refer patients to physical therapy when they first start to regain facial movement, in order to strengthen their facial function and minimize the risk of subsequent synkinesis. For patients with existing facial synkinesis, physical therapy can help to address the discomfort, excessive facial tone, and discordant facial movements experienced by many patients. Through the UPMC Facial Nerve Center, our team of physical therapists with specialized training in the treatment of facial nerve disorders will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan; this may include strengthening exercises, massage techniques, neuromuscular retraining, and compensatory strategies to help address common functional issues.
After an episode of viral reactivation facial palsy, such as Bell’s palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome, we typically recommend initiation of facial nerve physical therapy once function first starts to return, in order to mitigate the development of subsequent synkinesis. However, it is never too late to initiate a trial of physical therapy, and many patients with long-standing synkinesis can benefit from revisiting physical therapy even years down the road. Patients with partial flaccid paralysis may also benefit from physical therapy for facial strengthening and discussion of compensatory strategies for functional difficulties. Patients are often referred back to physical therapy after various facial reanimation surgeries, such as selective denervation, nerve transfers, or gracilis free muscle transfer. Our team of facial nerve physical therapists are well-versed in the most up-to-date interventions for facial paralysis, and can help you to make the most of your facial function.