Facial Palsy: A Ray of Hope
Movement Rehabilitation: Restoring Motion, Then Building Strength
You Can Look And Feel Like You Again
Avoid forcing facial expressions—Refrain from using a mirror and trying to force your muscles into movements they cannot perform until your facial nerve has sufficiently recovered!
There are a few steps to movement rehabilitation:
*First, restore motion by practicing natural, emotion-driven movements.
*Then, activate the foundational structures of the face and neck—often overlooked in most programs—to support full functional recovery.
*Next, build strength with resistance techniques, with lengthening to prevent over-amplified signals that can lead to persistent contraction and restricted movement.
​​Do Not attempt facial exercise until you have started to experience the return of movement.​
If your face begins to get tight or contract, stop forcing movement exercises and focus on release techniques.
Restore motion by practicing natural, emotion-driven movements.
The newest research has uncovered that we use a combination of the emotional centre and the motor centre of the brain to create the myriad of facial expressions.
The face has automatic emotional input which means it responds to the emotions we are feeling.
No other muscles in the body do this.
True control and repatterning of facial movement come from coordinating facial exercises with intentional emotional activation. With practice, emotion-based exercises become natural and effortless—key to both preventing and recovering from synkinesis.
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This approach, known as neuromuscular retraining, is the foundation of facial therapy. It involves using emotional input to enhance movement patterns. Working with a facial therapist is highly beneficial, but if you don’t have access to one, you can apply the same principles on your own:
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When practicing your smile, think of something that genuinely makes you happy. This engages both emotional and voluntary pathways for movement.
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When raising your eyebrows, imagine walking into a surprise party and hearing everyone shout, “Surprise!”
The more natural and spontaneous your movement practice feels—paired with the corresponding emotion—the more effective it will be.
For further support in coordinating facial exercises with intentional emotional activation, explore my Emotional Expression Program.
You may even be able to feel the inability to create expressions, such as areas that seem dense and non-responsive during movement... until those areas become alive and free again.
The Foundational Structures of the Face
Next, we must address the foundation of the face—the neck and cranial vault. This crucial step is often overlooked in other programs. Everything in the body is interconnected; the face does not function in isolation. Just as a building relies on a solid foundation for structural integrity, healing from facial palsy requires a strong base to support lasting recovery and function.
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The cranial vault muscles and the neck form this foundation. Before focusing on facial movement, we must first set the stage—establishing stability without worrying about performance.
*If you are experience long term complications from Facial Palsy this base is fundamental to improvement.
Becoming Aware of the Cranial Vault Muscles
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The epicranial aponeurosis is a connective tissue layer on top of the skull that links the frontal and occipital bellies of the occipitofrontalis muscle as well as the temporal muscles. This interconnected system plays a key role in facial expressions, enabling movements like furrowing the brows and raising the eyebrows.
The frontalis muscle extends from the eyebrows to the hairline, where it weaves into the epicranial aponeurosis, which continues down to the occipital region at the base of the skull. Surprisingly, eyebrow and forehead movement actually originates at the base of the skull, engaging the epicranial aponeurosis.
The temporal muscle (or temporalis) is a broad, fan-shaped muscle on the side of your head, just above and in front of your ears. It helps you chew and close your jaw by pulling your lower jaw upward. You can feel it working if you place your fingers on your temples while clenching your teeth.
Beyond chewing, the temporalis also plays a role in facial stability—connecting to the cranial vault and influencing the balance of surrounding muscles, including those involved in facial expressions. As one of the primary muscles of mastication, the temporalis serves as the foundation for jaw movement, ensuring smooth and controlled motion.
Even if you cannot move your eyebrows yet, try imagining lifting them as high as possible—reaching toward the top of your head. You may feel subtle tension in the occipital region. That’s because eyebrow movement begins at the base of the skull!
A full set of foundational exercises that take 15 - min is included in the Foundational Support Program
The Neck is the Foundation of the Face
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When the 7th cranial nerve ceases functioning, it ceases innervating muscles in the neck as well. This causes imbalances that need to be corrected. Especially if you have experienced long standing facial pasly. The neck is the foundation for the face.
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The platysma, a thin, superficial muscle located on each side of the neck and innervated by the 7th cranial nerve, plays a crucial role in facial mobility. Originating from the upper part of the shoulders and partly covering the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles, the platysma extends upward to insert into the mouth and chin area. Its primary function is to pull the lower lip and the corners of the mouth sideways and downward, which is essential for various expressions and movements.
In the context of Facial Palsy, where lasting symptoms often manifest as diminished movement and asymmetry in the lower face, activating the platysma becomes especially important. Targeted exercises that focus on engaging this muscle can help re-establish proper movement and balance in the mouth. By specifically activating the platysma, you may notice improved control over the lower facial region, which can lead to enhanced speech, better chewing mechanics, and more natural expressions.
Moreover, strengthening the platysma contributes to rebuilding the neural pathways associated with the facial nerve. This reactivation not only aids in regaining muscle memory but also supports coordinated movement between the jaw, neck, and other facial muscles. As a result, focused platysma exercises are a key component in holistic rehabilitation programs for individuals with Facial Palsy, addressing both the physical and neural aspects of the condition.
Not only the Platysma is affected, but the Scalenes, the Sternocleidomastoid, and the Upper Trapezius can all exasperate symptoms of Bell's Palsy.
I explain more about these muscles and share a frontal neck release technique in this blog.
​Jaw and Chewing Muscles: A Key to Overall Facial Health
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The jaw and chewing muscles form a critical link between the cranial vault muscles and the foundational musculature of the neck, seamlessly connecting and coordinating movement across these regions.
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The health of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is deeply intertwined with the condition of the jaw and its chewing muscles. These muscles—notably the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoids—play a critical role not only in chewing but also in maintaining proper facial structure and function. When stress levels rise, the body releases stress hormones that can trigger involuntary responses such as jaw clenching and teeth grinding. This response is part of the natural “fight or flight” mechanism, where increased muscle tension prepares the body to face perceived threats.
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Under stress, these chewing muscles become hyperactive and may contract unevenly, a condition that can disturb the alignment of the TMJ. This misalignment can have far-reaching effects, leading to chronic pain, headaches, and even impaired overall muscular coordination. Such issues are not just localized; they can influence posture and contribute to widespread discomfort throughout the body.
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For individuals with Facial Palsy, the implications are even more pronounced. Facial Palsy often results in uneven muscle contractions, and the added imbalance from stress-induced jaw clenching can exacerbate the condition. The natural contraction of the jaw, when it occurs asymmetrically, shifts the entire jaw structure. This imbalance can extend and intensify the symptoms of Facial Palsy, complicating recovery and reducing the effectiveness of treatments aimed at restoring facial symmetry and function.
Managing these issues typically requires a multifaceted approach. Stress reduction techniques—such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and retraining dysfunctional patterns of movement.
Everything in the body functions as a whole, working together in harmony. A holistic approach is the most effective way to support full recovery and minimize long-term complications.
The face does not function in isolation.
Build Strength With Resistance Techniques
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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 were disappointing. I practiced them regularly with very little improvement. In fact, I now know that forcing these exercises contributed to the contraction of my face and the development of Synkinesis.​​​
How often should I do facial exercises?
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. Ways to incorporate some practices into your every day rhythms are offered in the Foundational Roots Program. Setting aside time each day to focus on different areas of the face in rotation is most effective.
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A 5-minute video but once learned, this practice will only take 3-minutes a day. It was created as a foundational therapy for Bell's Palsy but will also help correct chronic neck and jaw issues as well as the resulting headaches. Try it every day for a week and you should start noticing the results.
Keep it up for a month and I'll bet you'll be thanking me.
Even if you receive upper cervical treatment in the form of adjustments you will need to rehabilitate the neck to correct and support the imbalances that are causing the misalignment in the 1st place.
My upper cervical chiropractor was astounded by my rapid improvement and ability to hold the adjustments after only 6 weeks of therapy with what he called "a messy neck". He confirmed the correlation of facial palsy treatment and upper cervical care.
He also asked me what I was doing and to share it with him. This is it folks...
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