How to Treat Bell’s Palsy with Physiotherapy | Nose Creek Physiotherapy
Blair Schachterle Health Tips

"Get The Solution To Your Problem By Booking A Free Discovery Session Today"


We realise some people may be “unsure” if Physio is right for them. It could be that you’re not sure it’ll work, or whether we can help with what you’ve got, or maybe you had a bad experience somewhere in the past? If that sounds like you and you’d like to come in and see for yourself how Nose Creek Physiotherapy can help you, please fill out the short form below and tell us more about you so we can answer your questions:

Book Your Free Discovery Session

How to Treat Bell’s Palsy with Physiotherapy

physiotherapy for bell’s palsy calgary

Bell's palsy is a kind of facial paralysis that results from damage to the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve) that controls the muscles in your face. Having been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, you may worry about how to overcome it and resume your normal activities.

However, with suitable treatment and time, you can recuperate from this short-lived condition. If you're dealing with Bell's palsy, keep reading for practical pointers on how to conquer this condition with physiotherapy.

As discussed below, there are two main types of physiotherapy: general and targeted. General physiotherapy emphasizes enhancing mobility and strength throughout the body; targeted treatments target specific conditions and resolve their signs and symptoms directly through strategies such as ultrasound or electrotherapy.

What causes it?

Bell's palsy affects about 50 people out of every million each year. About half recover within six months; others never fully regain movement. Causes are unknown, but many common conditions or factors that play an important role include viral infections, autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis, trauma, stroke, tumors, diabetes, accident injuries,  vitamin deficiencies, and medications.

What Are The Symptoms?

The most common symptoms include a drooping eyelid, loss of facial expression, facial twitches, facial muscle weakness, and pain around the ear, nose, or mouth. Symptoms usually occur suddenly, often within 24 hours of onset. There may be numbness or tingling over part of the face, especially near the eye. Some people experience nausea and vomiting.

General Physiotherapy for Bell's Palsy

General physiotherapy is a noninvasive treatment that concentrates on improving the range of motion and strength throughout the body. It can help relieve the signs connected with Bell's palsy by strengthening the muscles in your face and improving blood circulation to that area. In particular, general physiotherapy can serve to help you manage discomfort and boost your capability to eat, talk, and perform other day-to-day activities such as brushing your teeth.

Your physio may suggest various treatment options to take care of your symptoms, such as:

Cooling your face - This can serve to relieve pain and swelling.

Temperature Therapy - Moist cold and heat packs are popular kinds of temperature therapy.

Stimulation - Electrical microcurrent provided using a small device can serve to enhance strength and relieve pain.

Swallowing and chewing movements - These can serve to help you eat much better and address swallowing issues.

Targeted Physiotherapy for Bell's Palsy

Targeted therapies are intended to resolve specific conditions and deal with their signs and symptoms precisely through techniques such as ultrasound or electrotherapy. Your local  physiotherapist may also lead you through self-massage treatments, as this has been proven to help individuals recover from Bell's palsy at a much faster rate. Targeted therapies for Bell's palsy might include:

Electrical current therapy - Electrical currents applied to the surface area of the skin can serve to help to eliminate discomfort and muscle spasms. The intensity of the current can be adapted to suit your condition.

Manual Therapies - Your therapist might apply gentle pressure to the afflicted area, which has been demonstrated to alleviate pain.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - This treatment uses mild electrical stimulation (with a lower voltage than electrical current treatment) to decrease pain.

Ultrasound therapy - This has been shown to enhance blood circulation to the face and might minimize discomfort.

Facial Exercises and Techniques to Get Rid of Bell's Palsy with Physiotherapy

Soon after you have been diagnosed with Bell's palsy and have been prescribed physiotherapy, you'll need to integrate regular workouts into your everyday regimen. Some activities may be uncomfortable and even achy right away, but these signs and symptoms will go away as you continue your healing process.

Generally, the earlier you begin therapy, the speedier you'll improve.

You can expect to see substantial development within six to twelve weeks, however, it can take up to twelve months for your issues to completely go away. Here are some suggested workouts for recovering from Bell's palsy:

 Swallowing workouts - These can help you eat better and address swallowing concerns.

Motion exercises - Low-impact exercises such as stretching, walking, and light yoga can promote blood circulation to the face and improve your general health.

Massage Therapy - Self-massage can help eliminate discomfort and reduce stiffness and improve your overall facial function.

Cupping Therapy Technique - This effective treatment includes putting suction cups on your skin to improve blood circulation and relieve pain.

Tips to Deal with Bell's Palsy With Physiotherapy Treatments

Physiotherapy is normally safe for pregnant ladies and people of all ages. However, there are some precautions you'll need to keep in mind as you get better, including:

Stay away from strenuous activities that put excessive stress on your jaw. You'll likely be restricted to light physical exercise initially, however as your signs and symptoms decrease, you can increase the level of your workouts.

Stay away from extreme temperature levels. Severe heat or cold can impact blood circulation to your face and intensify your issues.

 Conclusion

Once you've been diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis, you may worry about how to get over it and resume your normal activities. Nevertheless, with the proper treatment plan and time provided by Nose Creek Physiotherapy, you can recuperate from this temporary condition effectively. We provide quality physiotherapy services in Calgary and surrounding areas including Calgary NW and Calgary NE.

To accelerate the process, make certain to integrate daily exercises into your regimen. Furthermore, stay away from severe temperature levels, take care of your teeth and wear a mouth guard, and keep your hands clean. With a little effort, you should be able to overcome Bell's palsy and return to your regular life.

Contact us today if you are experiencing any kind of facial nerve dysfunction.

Blair Schachterle
[brb_collection id="3698"]
Share This