Symptoms
- Sudden drooping of one side of the face
- Inability to close the eye on affected side
- Loss of taste sensation
- Drooling
- Increased sensitivity to sound
- Difficulty eating and drinking
Common causes
- Viral infection (herpes simplex virus most common)
- Inflammation of the facial nerve
- Immune system response
- Stress and cold exposure
- Pregnancy (third trimester)
How physiotherapy helps
Treatment includes facial muscle re-education, electrical stimulation, mirror therapy, eye protection and care, massage, and progressive facial exercises. Recovery typically occurs within 3-6 months.
Exercises your physiotherapist may give you
- Eye closure exercises
- Lip pursing and smiling exercises
- Cheek puffing
- Eyebrow raising
- Mirror biofeedback exercises
- Gentle facial massage
Please note: start these exercises only after an assessment, and stop if pain increases. Your physiotherapist will choose the right exercises, number of repetitions and progression for you.
Guide written by the physiotherapists of CAPT – Centre for Advanced Physiotherapy, MVM Educational Trust. For more reading, search MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).