Image via Wikipedia
After a stroke, or any kind of brain injury, a person might have a paralyzed face. This condition is called facial paralysis. Facial paralysis causes patients affected by it total immobility of the facial muscles. They might not be able to move certain facial muscles.
Facial paralysis can be total or partial. The extent of facial paralysis depends on the intensity of the stroke. Regular physiotherapy exercises can reduce the paralysis of the facial muscles. With regular effort, patients with facial paralysis might start to use their facial muscles again. Though full recovery cannot be expected, a significant improvement of facial muscle movement can be.
Massaging the facial muscles
It is important to massage the affected facial muscles. Massaging improves blood circulation in the face. Damaged nerves get stimulated with massaging. With circular motions, massaging increases the blood flow in the nerves.
Making sounds
Making sounds can get people to invoke dead facial muscles back to life. By repeated re-attempts, the duration of which can vary, facial muscles can eventually be stirred into action.
To start off, words like ”ooo”, ”aah”, and ”eee”, can be tried by the patient. It might seem difficult in the beginning, but continuous persistence will eventually fetch gains.
Doctors advice patients to do such exercises for an hour, at least three times a day. For some recovery may be fast, while it may be slow for others. The key is to be motivated.
A point to remember is that facial paralysis is not forever. It is just a case of shocked-nerves that have to be re-started again.









