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The
Facial Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Program
St. John's
Mercy Facial Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Program assists individuals with one-sided
facial paralysis or weakness in normalizing facial resting tone and achieving
more symmetrical voluntary movement and facial expression.
Treatment Eligibility
Individuals who are eligible for treatment are those who have lost facial muscle
control as a result of:
- Bell's palsy
- Post-surgical facial
nerve damage
- Traumatic facial nerve
injury
- Cranial nerve VII-XII
anastomosis
- Any other condition resulting
in impaired function of the facial nerve.
Evaluation Process
A physical therapist with specialized training in facial neuromuscular rehabilitation
will perform an extensive evaluation of each patient to determine needs and
appropriate treatment. The evaluation will include visual and photographic assessment
of facial resting tone, voluntary movement, and synkinesis (extraneous or unwanted
facial movement).
Treatment Plan
Facial rehabilitation typically begins six months after injury or onset of weakness,
although some treatment goals may be addressed during the acute phase of rehabilitation.
Treatment during the acute phase (up to six months after onset of facial weakness)
will consist of:
- Patient education
- Increasing awareness
of movement
- Assessing recovery of
movement
- Eye closure exercises
and education in eye care
- Promoting relaxed movement
of the non-impaired side.
During the post-acute phase
of rehabilitation (weakness or asymmetry lasting longer than
six months), treatment will emphasize:
- Administration of and
education in facial massage and stretching
- Increasing control of
movement as healing occurs
- Normalizing facial resting
tone
- Designing and periodically
modifying a home exercise program
- Minimizing the effects
of synkinesis with the help of mirror and computerized surface EMG biofeedback
- Providing the physician
with regular progress assessments
- Assisting patients and
physicians with decisions about the management of chronic impairment.
Patients whose facial nerve
injury occurred several years ago have also shown improvement with the program.
Although treatment frequency varies, individuals are typically seen one to two
times per week initially then reassessed with revision of home exercise program
monthly to bi-monthly, as needed.
A physician's referral
is required for evaluation and treatment. To schedule an appointment, please
call 314-881-4220.
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