Facial retraining exercises are designed to teach your facial muscles how to move again after full or partial paralysis. According to the Atlanta Ear Clinic, facial retraining must be done after the major nerve in your facial muscle has been paralyzed. Although it is often difficult to retrieve full range of motion, the goal of facial retraining exercises is to control your facial movements and return them to some degree of normalcy.
Frowning Exercise
This facial retraining exercise is designed to work the muscles specifically around your eyebrows and mouth. Sit in front of a mirror or with a partner to make sure you are doing it right. With your face in a regular position, use your eyebrow muscles to bring your eyebrows down toward your eyes. From here, attempt to push the muscles located in your cheeks down so that your mouth assumes a frown position. Hold this pose for five seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times before moving to another facial exercise. Performing this exercise several times a week.
Eye Muscle Exercise
This exercise is designed to improve your blinking ability and your ability to open and close your eyes. Start by facing a mirror with your eyes open wide. From this position, try to gently wink one eye, closing it for no more than a quarter of a second. Try this same exercise with the other eye, alternating between them as you start to improve. From here, close both of your eyes. Open them wide at the same time while trying to keep your other facial muscles from making abnormal or unnecessary movements. Repeat this closed and open position for 10 times. Repeat the entire exercise three times before taking a break.
Chewing Exercise
This exercise is designed to strengthen your mouth muscles while you are eating your meals. Start with a consistent piece of food such as a small piece of carrot or celery and take a bite. From here, bite the food in half, placing half of the food into one side of your mouth while the other half remains in the other side. Try chewing the food consistently with both sides of your mouth, not allowing one side or the other to get more work in. Chewing with both sides will prevent you from over developing one muscle in your face. Developing them at the same time will give you a more consistent look and manner while eating.
Member Comments