Bell’s palsy is a condition that affects the nerve that controls facial muscles. It can cause the victim to lose muscle control on one side of their face. While there is no cure for bell’s palsy, physical therapy treatment can help the victim regain muscle control and improve their quality of life. In this guide, we will discuss the different types of physiotherapy treatment available for bell’s palsy.
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What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a condition that affects the nerve that controls facial muscles. It can cause the victim to lose muscle control on one side of their face, such as in the eyelids and mouth. This condition can occur suddenly, and it is often difficult to determine the cause. But the main cause of bell’s palsy is believed to be a viral infection or inflammation of the facial nerve. However, it’s important to note that not all people who get bell’s palsy have an identifiable cause. Additionally, there are other possible risk factors for this condition, such as diabetes or stroke.
According to research studies, physiotherapy treatment has proven effective in helping patients with bell’s palsy regain muscle control.
Can Physical Therapy Help In Healing Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy can cause functional problems, like eating and drinking difficulty or talking, as well as psychological ones due to the changed appearance of your face. This may affect social functioning and self-esteem. In most situations, symptoms will eventually go away without treatment. However, physiotherapy has been shown to speed recovery by improving impairments associated with bell’s palsy in research studies. Physiotherapy helps in improving the quality of life in patients with Bell’s palsy through treatment such as therapeutic exercises, electrotherapy and manual therapy.
A physiotherapist will evaluate the patient within the first few days to a week of the onset of symptoms. This will involve reviewing the client’s medical history, noting when the symptoms first appeared and what makes them worse or better, and performing a physical examination with the goal of identifying Bell’s palsy-related patterns of weakness.
Following the evaluation, the physiotherapist will offer a customised Bell’s palsy treatment plan to assist you in regaining the healthy pattern of movements required for facial expressions and function. The physiotherapist will also serve as your coach during this trying time. They will lead you through specific exercises created to assist you in relearning facial movements based on your unique movement issues.
Read on to know more about bell’s palsy physiotherapy treatment.
What Are Some Examples Of Bell’s Palsy Physical Therapy
Some of the examples of bell’s palsy treatment through physical therapy are:
Optical Care
Most Bell’s palsy patients find it difficult to close their eyes on the side of their face that is afflicted throughout the illness. It’s crucial to guard against eye dryness at night or while using a computer. Eye care options include using eye drops during the day, ointment at night or a moisture chamber during the night to help prevent corneal scratches.
The most crucial action to take in the early stages of facial palsy is to make sure you are properly caring for the affected eye. In the first few weeks and months after facial palsy, you are quite likely to experience dry eyes since the face nerve produces the lubricant that coats the cornea. By doing this, you increase your chance of getting a corneal ulcer, which can impair vision in the affected eye. (If you are facing problems in your cornea we also provide effective cornea surgery)
If other medical experts have not already informed you about dry eye management, the therapist will do so. An immediate referral to ophthalmology is necessary if the eye seems red or if you experience recurrent episodes of redness. You should be told that going to an eye hospital’s emergency room is an alternative.
Neuromuscular retraining (NMR)
Muscles that are paralysed might contracture permanently and contract and shorten. In order to facilitate facial muscle activation in usage patterns of facial movement and expression and to suppress aberrant muscle activity that interferes with facial function, a procedure known as neuromuscular retraining is used to teach facial movement. In this process, a physical therapist will assess your facial movements and muscles and design exercises that help in regaining muscles.
This implies that the exercises will increase muscle activity, strengthen the muscles, and enhance your capacity to use the muscles for longer periods of time.
Following that, movement control exercises will be given to:
- Your facial muscles’ coordination will improve.
- Reversing the aberrant facial movement patterns that could appear while recovering.
- Establish precise facial movements for actions like speaking and eye closure.
- Refine your facial expression motions, such as smiling.
Your physiotherapist will give you tips on how to strengthen your capacity to aggressively contract your facial muscles before stopping. This will help you relax and lessen spasms.
Massage Treatment
Massage aids in circulation improvement and helps to stretch and move facial muscles. This avoids issues like contractures. Increased muscular movements in the cheeks may be achieved through methods like circling the cheeks with the fingertips.
Professional assistance is best even if the workouts are easy and can be done at home. It’s better not to take any chances. They will assist you in not only detecting the issue and properly treating it. They will also be using a mix of approaches to see what works best. A physiotherapist will make sure you perform the proper facial exercises to get rid of Bell’s palsy as fast and safely as possible.
Speed Up The Recovery Of Bell’s Palsy By Physical Therapy?
There is no single approach to speeding up recovery from bell’s palsy. Each person has unique needs and will respond differently to different treatment approaches. However, some of the key components of a successful recovery plan may include things like
- Physical therapy exercises strengthen your facial muscles and improve the coordination of your movements. These can include simple things like circling facial muscles with your fingers, massaging affected areas, and performing targeted facial exercises.
- Eye drops or other medications to manage dry eye symptoms and reduce inflammation in the affected area if needed.
- Alternative therapies like acupuncture to improve blood flow and healing in the facial muscles, or deep tissue massage to increase circulation and alleviate muscle tension.
- Lifestyle modifications like getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding stressful activities or situations that could further exacerbate your symptoms
Additionally, it may be helpful to work closely with a physiotherapist who can provide personalized guidance and support throughout the recovery process. Ultimately, the key to achieving optimal recovery from bell’s palsy is staying patient, committed, and focused on your healing journey.
What Are The Limitations And Concerns During Recovery?
While it is possible to recover from bell’s palsy, there may be some limitations and concerns to keep in mind during the recovery process. For example, facial weakness or paralysis can make it difficult to speak clearly or close your eyes completely. Additionally, you may experience issues with excess saliva production or frequent eye tearing due to muscle spasms and nerve damage.
If you experience any of these difficulties during your recovery, it is important to communicate them to your physiotherapist. Becomes easier to work and develop an appropriate treatment plan that addresses your unique needs. Effective strategies for addressing these issues may include:
- Working with a speech therapist
- Using eye drops or other solutions.
- Making adjustments to your diet
- Improving sleep schedule
Overall, it is important to remember that the recovery time for bell’s palsy can vary greatly from person to person. However, with the right treatment plan in place and a positive attitude, you can recover fully and resume all of your normal activities without any lasting effects or limitations due to this condition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you have been diagnosed with bell’s palsy, it is important to speak with your physiotherapist. They have the best treatment options for your individual situation. By working closely with a qualified therapist, you can stay positive and focused on your recovery while minimizing the limitations that may be associated with this condition.
Physical Therapy help patients recover from pain. If you’re experiencing Back pain, Shoulder pain, Knee pain, Neck pain, Elbow pain, Hip pain, or Arthritis pain, a physical therapist at MantraCare can help: Book a physiotherapy session.
