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Facial Palsy: A Ray of Hope
Rehabilitation With Release
You Can Look And Feel Like You Again
Relaxation, stretching, massage, and patience play a crucial role in Facial Palsy recovery. Many of the facial muscles thread into each other and work together. In fact all of the muscles in the body work in pairs, including the facial muscles. As one muscle contracts, the other muscle relaxes or lengthens. The muscle that is contracting is called the agonist and the muscle that is relaxing or lengthening is called the antagonist.
Both must happen to complete a movement or expression.
I offer an example of a release exercise below.
Stretching or Lengthening
Facial Palsy movement exercises can be a tug a of war when the muscles are tight or contracted which is very common. It is key to stretch, and massage an area before exercising it. If I would have been aware of this concept I absolutely know my journey would not have been as long or complicated!
Engage or strengthen an area, then immediately follow it with a lengthening exercise.
This will both help prevent synkinesis and help correct it depending on your where you are at on your journey.
The effects also travel unfortunately. The neck is foundational to included in your therapy.
Even if you suffered from facial palsy decades ago.
The shoulder and arm of the affected side can be affected as well!
Explore different ways to integrate Release Therapy into your routine. You can try these techniques while watching TV or taking a shower, so they don’t feel like extra tasks. Make self-massage or stretching a moment of self-care or a part of your relaxation routine.
Tight, Tense or Contracted Facial & Neck Muscles
After Bell’s Palsy, the neck and face (particularly around the mouth, cheek and nose area), can sometimes feel tense or even painful, even years later. However, tense muscles are not Bell’s Palsy itself. Medically, Bell’s Palsy is considered resolved once nerve regeneration begins and movement returns, but lingering symptoms are classified as residual effects or complications.
The lower face moves with the help of several muscles, including the platysma, a surface muscle of the neck, and the depressor anguli oris, which pulls the mouth corner downward. Both attach to the lower jaw and are closely linked in the brain’s motor cortex, which controls conscious contraction and relaxation of all muscles in our body, including the facial muscles.
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Overactive Nerve Signals in Facial Recovery​
Following Bell’s Palsy, the brain often over-amplifies signals to the muscles. Instead of balanced control, the motor cortex sends excessive signals, activating not only the intended muscle but also neighboring areas. This can lead to persistent contraction, making the neck and face feel tight and tense.
We need to retrain the brain to stop over-amplifying signals—a process that takes time and requires rehabilitation. The habits formed during healing can be difficult to undo, which is why I share this. My hope is that you establish proper movement patterns from the start, rather than having to correct them later.
More On Antagonistic Muscle Pairs
Lets use the example of Smiling
There are two zygomaticus muscles that allow you to smile when they contract. The main part of both muscles is right up in the cheek where the cheek bulges when you smile. We use these muscles particularly when we do a full or big smile.
BUT
The depressor anguli oris must relax in order to complete the smile. When it doesn't, the zygomaticus muscles are unable to complete the job and the muscles around it jump in to help.
And voila, synkinesis patterns develop.
Keep reading for practices to relax and release the muscles of the face and neck.
Benefits of Warm Compresses During Facial Palsy
Facial paralysis also impacts slow lymphatic drainage and poor circulation to the facial muscles. During this stage facial muscles are highly prone to develop tightness, tenderness and muscle atrophy if the paralysis lasts for a longer time.
Application of warm compresses is a great way to boost the circulation and helps the paralyzed facial muscles to rejuvenate. In the acute phase of bell’s palsy when your nerve is recovering, a warm compress creates an environment for better healing of the nerve.
Here are benefits of applying warm compresses to the facial muscles:
* It promotes circulation. The combination of warm steam and an increase in perspiration dilates your blood vessels and increases circulation. This boost of blood flow nourishes your skin and delivers oxygen. The result is relaxed facial muscles.
* It’s soothing. The feeling of warmth on your face is relaxing. You can take this even deeper with the added guidance of intentional relaxation of the muscles. I share this in my Freedom Before Movement Program.
* It’s affordable and accessible. You don’t need to dish out big bucks at a spa to enjoy the benefits; it can be done at home using items you already have or are inexpensive to acquire.
* It prevents muscle waste, eases pain and maintains your facial tone.
* Warm compresses help to reduce the swelling on the facial nerve by stimulating lymphatic drainage.
Key things to consider while applying warm compresses:
* Consider applying warmth behind the ear where the nerve damage has happened.
* Relaxing muscles is key in restoring full movement and correcting synkinesis at any stage of recovery.
* Can be used daily.
* Make sure you feel comfortable with it, and it is not burning your skin.
* You can use either a warm compress like microwave heat pack, or simple cloth dipped in hot water.
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Massage Therapy
Massage is recommended to gently stretch and mobilize facial muscles until the nerve has repaired itself. It is important to promote circulation which will encourage nerve repair. So massage is one of the 1st therapies you can practice. (Facial exercises do not come in until after movement starts returning.)
Facial palsy may cause pain and stiffness as immobilized muscles atrophy from non-use. Persistent muscle contraction due to excessive signals causes serious movement impairments even after Bell's Palsy subsides. Release is imperative to
​restore proper movement!
Facial massage is a great way to help restore feeling to the paralyzed part of the face. You may find it helpful to start with sessions with a professional massage therapist who has experience with facial palsy. You can then continue practicing yourself.
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Massage is so important. If you can relax your facial muscles then all activity will come.
Tools for Self Massage
Other than your fingers, massage tools such as a soft foam stress ball and a dense foam 4inch ball can be very beneficial. I share how to use them specifically for facial palsy in Freedom Before Movement Program. They are available for purchase at discount stores quite easily.
I can not stress enough to be gentle with your face.
Lymphatic Drainage For Facial Palsy
Facial paralysis slows lymphatic drainage and reduces circulation to the facial muscles. Over time, this can lead to tightness, tenderness, and muscle atrophy, especially if paralysis persists.
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Lymphatic drainage therapy is a gentle manual technique that stimulates lymph flow and improves circulation, helping paralyzed facial muscles rejuvenate. You can learn self-care methods using Gua Sha or facial cupping through free tutorials, or seek assistance from a qualified Lymphatic Drainage Specialist.
Lymphatic drainage treatments accelerate the absorption and transportation of lymphatic fluids which contain toxins, bacteria, viruses, and proteins.
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Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage for Facial Palsy
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Reduces Swelling & Fluid Retention – Helps clear excess lymph fluid, reducing puffiness and stagnation in the affected area.
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Improves Circulation – Enhances blood flow to nourish facial muscles and support nerve regeneration.
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Eases Muscle Tightness & Tenderness – Encourages relaxation of tight or overactive muscles, preventing discomfort and stiffness.
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Prevents Muscle Atrophy – Supports tissue health by maintaining some level of stimulation in paralyzed muscles.
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Enhances Nerve Recovery – Clears toxins and promotes an optimal environment for nerve healing.
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Reduces Pain & Discomfort – Can help alleviate pressure, tenderness, and the sensation of facial heaviness.
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Supports Facial Symmetry – Helps balance fluid distribution and muscle tone as recovery progresses.
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Boosts Immune Function – Stimulates the lymphatic system, which plays a key role in immunity and inflammation control.
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Promotes Relaxation & Stress Relief – Gentle manual therapy soothes the nervous system and reduces tension in the face and neck.
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Encourages Natural Healing – Works with the body’s innate processes to restore function and vitality in the affected area.​
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I share how to use the Gua Sha and Facial Cupping to implement lymphatic drainage in my Addtional Growth Program.
Guasha Therapy for Facial Palsy
The Guasha is a wonderful tool for treating trigger points, acupoints and fibrous tissue as well as for lymphatic drainage.
This is especially true if you are experiencing synkinesis.
Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of muscle. They produce pain locally and in a referred pattern and often accompany chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Used for thousands of years in China, acupressure applies the same principles as acupuncture to promote relaxation and wellness and to treat disease. Acupressure is often thought of as simply acupuncture without the needles.
Fibrous connective tissue is composed of parallel bundles of collagen fibers. It is found in the dermis, tendons, and ligaments and can also be referred to as dense connective tissue.
You don't need to know more about these, the technique is the same and you are just looking for tender spots to take care of.
The Guasha
Tools such as the Gua Sha are extremely beneficial. I share how to use the Gua Sha specifically for facial palsy in my Additional Growth Program to treat trigger points, acupoints, fibrous tissue and to help lengthen key areas.
They are available for purchase online quite easily. They come in various shapes and stones. I prefer this shape, just get what you are attracted to for the stone.
I can not stress enough to be gentle with your face.
Intentionally Relaxing Involuntary Movements
In order to retrain the neuropathways to proper movement without involuntary responses or synkinesis it is important to intentionally relax the unwanted movements happening during exercises. I guide you through how to do this in all of my programs.
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You can also remember to be aware of and focus on relaxing them throughout everyday activities such as eating.
Mindfully eat on the affected side and try to keep your eye or other involuntary movements to a minimum. I find it helpful to really focus my gaze or blink several times. Finding the right point to press to disable the involuntary movement is quite helpful as well.
Get inspired with ongoing tips and guidance.
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