The Effects of Symmetrical Self-performed Facial Muscle Exercises on the Neuromuscular Facilitation of Patients with Facial Palsy

Abstract

[Purpose] The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of symmetric self-performed facial muscle exercises on the facial muscle function of patients with facial palsy. [Subjects] The subjects were 26 persons (men=12, women=14) who suffered from facial palsy and were treated by western-oriental medical treatment. [Methods] We educated patients to conduct symmetric self-performed facial muscle exercises three times per day for four weeks by themselves to facilitate neuromuscular function. We evaluated them before and after the exercise period using Yanagihara's Unweighted Grading System and the House-Brackmann Grading System. [Results] After 4 weeks' symmetric self-performed facial muscle exercises, patients showed a significant improvement in facial palsy. The control group also showed a significant improvement. According to both Yanagihara's Unweighted Grading System and the House-Brackmann Grading System, the intervention group showed a greater improvement of scores than the control group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that adding symmetric self-performed facial muscle exercises to the western-oriental medical treatment is a more effective treatment than western-oriental medical treatment alone for recovery from facial palsy.