Resistance Therapy
Resistance training increases muscle strength by making your muscles work against a weight or force.
Think of it as increasing the effectiveness of your facial exercises for maximum benefit.
Resistance training is based on the principle that muscles of the body will work to overcome a resistance force when they are required to do so. When you do resistance training repeatedly and consistently, your muscles become stronger.
With facial muscles the external resistance is created with your fingers either opposing the movement or creating pressure in key spots.
It literally forces a muscle or group of muscles to wake up and at least start performing the action.
Where you can get even a little engagement you can get more.
Knowing where to press to create resistance to correct unwanted facial movement is also beneficial. I speak more on this on the Release page.
My own experience with the common facial exercises available for facial palsy rehabilitation was disappointing. I practiced them regularly with very little improvement.
They may be all you need if you are blessed with a quick recovery so I have included them below.
How often should I do facial exercises?
Do Not attempt facial exercise until you have started to experience movement.
The frequency of practicing your facial exercises depends on how long the muscles have been inactive. Daily practice is most effective and is necessary if you have long standing facial palsy in order to retrain and recreate those neuropathways. See my Mindful Practices page for ways to incorporate some practices into your every day rhythms. You may also set aside time each day and focus on different areas of the face in rotation.
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Recently experiencing facial movement 2-3 days/ week,
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Long standing facial palsy daily.
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After care for drooping even decades later may start with daily therapies to revitalize then weekly or monthly practice for upkeep.
Everyone's needs are different which is why I share various therapies in such a way that you can choose what to focus on.
Caution:
During some the exercises facial muscles are also stretched which can help them to relax. Nonetheless, it has to be done carefully. There is a possibility to overdo it or unconsciously apply more pressure on the muscles than necessary. This can lead to further tightening of the muscles.