Facial Muscle Therapy

Physical therapists use various techniques to address pain, dystrophy and paralysis associated with conditions that affect cranial nerves and muscles. Such conditions include Bell's palsy, muscle-related headaches, middle ear infections, temporomandibular disorders, post-surgical complications and trauma. Facial muscle therapies may be delivered via manual manipulation or mechanical means. Treatment goals also differ. In some cases, the objective is to relax muscles to reduce stress-triggered pain; in others the goal is to retrain muscles to restore function.

Facial Massage

Massage therapy can help to increase the circulation of blood to facial muscles and nerves, which equates to an increase in oxygen delivery as well. The massage techniques used by most Western physical therapists are borrowed from Swedish massage, although these techniques also draw from the healing traditions of ancient China, Greece and Egypt. Some of the most common manipulations used in facial massage therapy include effleurage, kneading, stroking and tapping.

Orthodics

The use of orthodontic corrective devices may be used when temporomandibular disorders are involved, which affect the function of either temporomandibular joint that joins the lower jaw to the sides of the head. The occlusal splint is one example, more commonly known as a bite splint or night guard. The purpose of the splint is to reduce stress on these joints, which helps the facial muscles to relax.

Facial Acupuncture

A 1991 study led by Anders Johansson of the University of Gothenberg in Sweden showed that facial acupuncture was as effective in relieving recurring headache or facial pain related to muscle dysfunction as using a night guard. In fact, since there was no discernable difference in outcome between the group receiving facial acupuncture and those given bite splints, the researchers concluded that both therapies were complementary to the other.

Neuromuscular Retraining

Neuromuscular retraining is a highly specialized field and involves the use of various electrotherapy tools, such as electromyography, electrical nerve stimulation, biofeedback, ultrasound and short-wave diathermy. The goal of this therapy is to retrain muscles to reduce the occurrence of synkinesis, or involuntary muscle movements. In effect, the patient is reeducated in how to control certain muscles to restore symmetry in facial appearance and movement. Although this field requires the use of high-tech devices, a large part of this therapy relies on the patient's willingness to practice self-feedback at home using a simple mirror.