The condition, also known as Bell's palsy, is an acute inflammatory disease affecting the facial nerve. It is characterized by paresis or paralysis of one facial half. The exact cause of its occurrence is unknown. It often occurs after a viral infection, cold or flu, and in people suffering from diabetes. It is assumed that the above causes lead to inflammation of the nerve. It swells, becomes compressed and thus the conduction of nerve impulses is disturbed, leading to impaired function of the mimic muscles.
The condition comes on suddenly, peaking after about two or three days. The rate of response is individual, most often lasting about a few weeks. It takes up to several months to complete cure.
Once the condition occurs, we at Okto advise you to start physiotherapy as soon as possible to reduce the recovery time. Physiotherapy is an important part of recovery because it helps to reduce the risk of developing what is known as synkinesia. This term refers to a condition in which the strength of the mimic musculature has been restored but the voluntary coordination of muscle contraction is impaired. That is, there is recovery of movement, but its execution is incorrect and muscles not responsible for it are involved. The end result is the execution of an unwanted grimace.
The means used are electrical stimulation, massage and facial muscle exercises tailored to the degree of muscle strength available.
Electrical stimulation is suitable in the first few treatments, as it maintains the tone of the muscles that are not currently innervated. It also helps to restore the conductivity of the nerve endings.
Massage is also an important means by which blood circulation is stimulated in the affected area, which is extremely important for muscle recovery.
Exercises for the facial (mimic) muscles are particularly important, as they directly train and restore the movement of specific muscles. It is important to consider from what position the exercises will be performed as the current strength of the musculature must be taken into account. For significantly weakened muscles, it is better to start from a lying position to eliminate gravity. In cases where the musculature has a slight impairment of strength, training from a seated or standing position is preferred as resistance from gravity is overcome. In these cases the patient is also given home exercises to perform in front of a mirror.
Collaborative work between therapist and patient is critical to achieving good outcomes. As a conclusion, we can say that although the condition seems severe and frightening, the recovery is fast and significant results can be seen after a week or two. Full recovery is possible and can be achieved in a few months.
