Massage for the treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve. Physical therapy for facial nerve damage

It is common, there are reasons for this: the nerve lies in a narrow place (the ear canal), swelling compresses it.

The disease is expressed in lacrimation, drooping of the corner of the mouth, and sloping of the face to one side.

The disease is successfully treated, and exercise therapy for neuritis of the facial nerve plays an important role.

Exercise therapy is prescribed by neurologists from the 1st day of illness; it cannot be stopped after recovery.

The disease imposes restrictions on lifestyle:

do not overcool;
speak little and quietly;
eat in small portions, chew on both sides.

Exist general rules carrying out therapeutic physical culture with neuritis of the facial nerve:

exercises are done in front of a mirror;
each time those muscles that produce a certain movement must be involved. For example, when smiling, you should not frown;
You can first do the exercise mentally, then in practice.

The herpes virus is a common cause of damage to the facial nerve. It is necessary to treat herpes and other infections, as well as otitis (including non-infectious), caries, mumps.

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy includes gymnastics and hardware procedures.

Table. Stages of exercise therapy

In the basic period, a corset is worn on the face.

If you couldn’t buy a corset, you need to do the following exercises:

place your palm closer to the ear of the healthy half, the 2nd hand on the chin towards the affected part;
pull your arms in the direction of paralysis, restoring symmetry;
sitting on the edge of a chair, lower your head in the direction opposite to the lesion;
leaning your elbow on your knee, hold your head on the painful side.

Perform 3-4 times a day for 15 minutes.

You can replace the corset with positional treatment; this does not replace exercise therapy, which includes:

massage the closed eyelids with the index finger in a clockwise circular motion;
stroking the eyebrows from the middle, the diseased half of the nose up, the healthy half down.

When changing a corset, you need to lubricate your face with cream.

Mainly period e Exercise therapy begins with working out shoulder girdle. While sitting, you can move your hand to the side and fixate it with your gaze; rotate shoulder joint with a brush attached to it in different directions; raise and lower your hands. The patient does not get tired of these exercises.

Acupressure is carried out in acute forms of the disease with the index finger, the blunt part of a pencil, and a toothpick on certain areas in a clockwise direction for up to 4 minutes, until warmth and numbness are felt.

Places for acupressure massage are:

muscle tubercle on the back of the hand with the thumb adducted;
outside at the end of the fold elbow joint when bending it;
the canine fossa will be revealed when you place your index finger under the cheekbone with your mouth slightly open;
cartilage right under the nose, at the beginning of the nasal fold.

Vacuum needle therapy and treatment with the Darsonval apparatus are done at home and in the hospital.

When performing exercise therapy exercises for neuritis of the facial nerve, one should not allow the face to skew to the healthy side.

Treatment by position

Positional treatment involves applying an adhesive plaster, which is attached to a custom-made helmet, from the healthy side of the face to the diseased side.

Techniques active gymnastics with neuritis of the facial nerve

To reduce the palpebral fissure, 2 strips in the middle of the eyelids are pulled until double vision is achieved and brought outward and upward. In other cases, such treatment should be carried out during the day. Perform for 30-60 minutes 2-3 times a day, gradually increasing to 3 hours, when eating, talking, performing household activities.

Apply eye strips at night to moisturize them.

Special exercises for facial muscles

This exercise therapy is carried out during the main period. It is necessary to hold healthy muscles with your hand so that they are relaxed, and correct them on the affected part of the face so that they “look” healthy. It is important to achieve symmetry.

Approximate sequence of exercises:

frown and raise eyebrows;
look at the tip of the nose;
adopt an angry expression, then “put on a mask” of surprise and grief;
smile with your mouth closed and open;
bare teeth;
blow;
whistle;
put out the candle;
grab the lower lip with your upper teeth, then the upper lip with your lower teeth;
look down without using your head, close your eyes, “helping” the eyelid on the affected side with your finger, wait 1 minute; open eyes; repeat 2 more times;
close your eyes;
open your eyes wide;
squint;
alternately close your eyes;
follow with your eyes the finger moving clockwise and counterclockwise;
blink at different paces for up to 6 seconds;
pronounce the sound that stops the horse - “whoa-u”;
snort up to 5 times or whistle for up to 4 seconds - while exhaling;
widen the nostrils;
interfere with the flow of air when inhaling with your fingers, placing them on the wings of the nose;
inflate and retract your cheeks, then alternately one and then the other;
rinse your mouth;
“clean” your teeth with your tongue, move it across the roof of your mouth - without opening your mouth;
swing your tongue left and right, back and forth, make circles clockwise and counterclockwise - with your mouth open;
stick out your tongue, pointing the tip;
clatter;
roll the edges of the tongue towards the center.

Repeat 6 times, then increase to 20.

To restore a smile, it is enough to make the patient laugh by warning him about it.

Exercises to improve articulation

During the basic period, the patient learns to pronounce individual sounds.

At the main stage, when forming syllables, vowel sounds must be combined with consonants, and be sure to include b-p, v-f, m, since their pronunciation uses the facial muscles to the maximum.

For each pair of letters we form “direct” and “reverse” syllables, for example, “fi-if”, “mo-ohm”. It is necessary to pronounce the syllables clearly, like an actor, using your lips.

As the condition improves, the patient should read fairy tales in front of the mirror, making sure that the face does not distort.

Period of residual effects

Sometimes the consequences of neuritis do not go away completely due to incomplete passage of the nerve impulse. Then you need to continue the exercises of the main stage with the addition of bending and shaking your head from side to side.

It is one of the most common diseases of the peripheral nervous system. It is known for its excruciating pain that prevents normal functioning.

You can read about how to deal with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve and the resulting pain syndrome at home.

Anticonvulsants for trigeminal neuralgia are a real salvation. They have a calming and relaxing effect, and most importantly, reduce severe pain.

Video on the topic

Healing techniques of exercise therapy for neuritis of the facial nerve in the video below:

Our health directly affects our smile. Even without medications, exercise therapy gives good results. It all depends on the diligence of the patient.

Neuritis is often confused with neuropathy and neuralgia. However, there are differences between these diseases.

Neuritis is an inflammation of the nerve, accompanied by a number of changes. Inflammation affects the myelin sheaths and axons of the nerve cell.
Neuropathy is a disease of non-inflammatory etiology, also characterized by the presence of degenerative changes.
Neuralgia is an inflammatory disease in which no changes are observed, there is no paralysis, paresis, or movement disorders.

All diseases can affect the facial, auditory, mandibular, maxillary, and orbital nerves. Symptoms and their expressiveness depend on the degree of damage: in the later stages of the disorder, pain, movement disorders and other signs of disease are maximally manifested.

Treatment

Neuritis is treated by a neurologist. Treating the disease can be stressful due to the intense pain. The main methods by which neuritis of the facial nerve is treated: massage, cold or warm compresses, bed rest, nutrition correction.

Some groups are also used in therapy medicines– corticosteroids, analgesics. Sometimes the symptoms of neuritis completely disappear after several days of treatment, sometimes surgical intervention is necessary. To prevent neuritis, it is recommended to ensure a sufficient supply of B vitamins, avoid strict diets, alcohol, and hypothermia.

Acupressure

Acupressure for facial neuritis is a simple, time-consuming technique. Acupressure is a technique popular throughout the world and has long been used in Chinese traditional medicine; the process involves applying pressure to specific points on the human body.

Acupressure is primarily intended for the prevention of disease, and its therapeutic effects are still debated. For therapy to be effective, the procedure (at least initially) should be repeated several times a day; after significant symptoms have resolved, the frequency can be reduced.

The advantage of acupressure is that it is not painful. No needles needed, just fingers. This type of massage for facial nerve paresis eliminates the disorder motor ability, accelerates the restoration of sensitivity of the surrounding tissue.

Despite the many benefits, doctors do not recommend replacing the use medicines acupressure technique. However, they admit that it can speed up treatment.

Five main points on the head:

Between the eyebrows. Massaging this point will not only relieve nerve pain, but also eliminate eye fatigue.
Just below the beginning of the inner part of the eyebrows. Massaging this area is recommended to relieve nervous pain, stuffy nose, and strengthen vision.
Above the corners of the mouth. Massaging relieves the symptoms of neuritis and helps avoid stress.
On the back of the neck. Indications include signs of nerve inflammation, eye pain, ear pain, and migraine.
2-3 cm above the ears - left and right. Massage helps with acoustic neuritis and headaches.

Contraindications for acupressure:

diseases of the cardiovascular system;
vestibular disorders;
unstable blood pressure;
tendency to syncopation;
the presence of inflammatory, pustular, tumor skin diseases.

During pregnancy and lactation, you should consult your doctor about the advisability of acupressure.

Self-massage of the face step by step

For self-massage to be effective, you need to respond well to it. The right atmosphere will help with this. Spend it in a quiet place where no one will disturb you, turn off the lights, leave only a small lamp or light a candle. Relaxing music is also a good help.

Spinning with your fingertips. Connect the index, middle and thumb, with light pressure, massage the skin in circles. It is better to do this along the massage lines, from below; So, in addition to the symptoms of neuritis, you will also get rid of facial wrinkles.
Circling with fingertips. Connect your fingers as described above and place them on the skin with pads. Massage from the center of the face to the ears.
Tingling. It is advisable to use this method to restore impaired sensitivity and blood circulation. The massage should not be too painful or unpleasant; use reasonable pressure when pinching. Never pinch the skin around your eyes; it is too thin and sensitive.

Using these methods, you can perform massage for neuritis of the facial nerve at home. It will help relieve pain and restore impaired mobility.

Warming up

Start pinching at the root of the nose, slowly move along the eyebrow line to the temples, the bottom of the ears. Do the same on the lower jaw: start from the tip of the chin, move along the edge of the jaw to the bottom of the ears.

Big circles

Apply a little oil to your fingertips (for pain, the most effective oils are mint, rosemary, and lavender). Massage your face in large circles, applying light pressure. Massage along the sides of the nose, move through the center of the forehead, copy the hairline, go down to the temples, then back to the chin. For this method, you can use a special vibrating facial massager.

Circling on the cheekbones

Start the massage on the cheeks, slowly move through the cheekbones to the temples.
Start on the sides of the nose at the nostrils, moving in a circular motion along the lower edge of the cheekbones towards the ears.
Press the tips of your middle fingers to the inner corners of your eyes, slowly move them in an arc, along your eyebrows to your ears.

Circling on the forehead

Start at the root of the nose, move your fingers in circles along the facial line, then down to the temples.

Sliding across the forehead

Start in the middle of the forehead and slowly move towards the temples.

Head massage

Massage your entire head. Using all fingers, gently rub the scalp as if applying shampoo to the roots of your hair. Start at the level of the temples, go down behind the ears, to the back of the head.

Face rubbing

Place your palms on your cheeks, with the edges of your palms (at your little fingers) touching the sides of your nose. Then pull your palms out to the sides towards your ears; try to put pressure on inner part palms (at the index finger) to feel how the skin is “pulled” away from the center of the face.

At the end, repeat “large circles” several times, remain calm for a while, breathe deeply. Remove excess oil remaining after massage.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture (acupuncture) is a healing method in which small needles are inserted into acupuncture points on the body. The purpose of the procedure is to lightly irritate the affected area and therefore encourage self-healing.

How does acupuncture work on the face?

Since acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine, the acupuncturist first examines not only the symptoms of the problem, but also the causes. It builds a picture of the disease based on the patient's age, lifestyle, exposure to stress, dietary habits, etc. This interview lasts about 30 minutes, on the basis of which the specialist will determine in which places the needles should be applied. If a part of the body is damaged, the needles locally activate the failed cells, and the body begins to restore them.

Needles are inserted not only into the skin of the face, but also into the legs, arms, and earlobes. According to traditional Chinese medicine, lines are intertwined in the human body through which the living energy of Chi influences the state of the body and mind.

How is the acupuncture procedure performed?

After the initial diagnosis and examination of the skin, the acupuncture process begins: first on the body, then on the face. Injections around the painful area are performed with small needles. The penetration of the needle into the skin is not deep, the puncture hardly bleeds. Needles are sterile, disposable. The procedure is not painful, but at first there may be slight discomfort, most likely due to fear of the acupuncture process. During the 2-hour procedure, 100-150 needles are used.

Acupuncture is not a home treatment. It must be carried out by an experienced specialist.

Massage technique

The massage is aimed at strengthening facial muscles face, neck, shoulder girdle, eliminating swelling and stagnation in the nerve canal, improving blood and lymph circulation, excitability and nerve conductivity.

His main techniques include:

soft vibrating movements in the cheek area;
massaging the eyebrows, forehead, nasolabial triangle with fingertips;
rubbing the neck, shoulders, arms;
stroking the occipital region.

Movements should be without pressure; it is possible to use a vibration trainer. Facial massage for neuritis of the facial nerve is carried out in courses of 25 daily sessions lasting 2-5 minutes or 2 times a day for 15-20 minutes.

Before the procedure, you must wash and disinfect your hands. The patient should not feel pain; a change in skin tone indicates improper execution.

Massage movements are performed in different directions.

Forehead massage:

Classic massage for neuritis of the facial nerve

Massage movements for neuritis of the facial nerve are very similar to massage for inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. Classic massage is performed by a specialist in a medical institution; the procedure is painless and can take from 5 to 20 minutes. Usually prescribed in courses of 1-2 sessions per day for a month.

The massage is aimed at improving blood flow to the facial muscles, relieving spasms of facial muscles, restoring lost or reduced motor function of muscles, and eliminating speech defects caused by neuritis.

Classic massage technique for inflammation of the facial nerve

The question arises, how to do massage with neuritis of the facial nerve. His technique includes stroking, rubbing and vibrating movements. The procedure begins with massage stroking and rubbing movements of the muscles of the neck and back of the head, improving lymphatic drainage from the facial muscles. Then they move directly to facial muscle massage. Perform symmetrical movements on the healthy and sore sides along massage lines, moving from the center to the periphery.

First, massage the forehead with stroking movements, moving from the midline to the temples. The eye area is treated with similar movements, starting from the inner corner of the eye, gradually moving towards the outer corner. Then they start from the wings of the nose, moving to the temples, massaging the cheekbone area. The last area for stroking massage movements is the area of the lips, from where they are directed to the corner of the lower jaw.

Subsequently, all movements are repeated with slight pressure, achieving a rubbing effect and greater blood flow to the muscles. The last massage movements are vibration ones, they are carried out in the same sequence. Classic massage ends with stroking movements of the face, neck and back of the head.

Early period of rehabilitation treatment

IN early period restorative treatment (days 1–10 of illness) uses positional treatment, massage and therapeutic exercises.

Treatment by position
It is used to eliminate facial asymmetry and consists of adhesive plaster tension (taping) from the healthy side of the face to the affected one. It is directed against the pull of the muscles of the healthy side and is carried out by firmly fixing the other free end of the patch to a special helmet-mask, made individually for each patient from a bandage (see figure).

Taping rules:

Correction of the muscles of the healthy side should be carried out with such force that the antagonist muscles of the affected side are sufficiently free in their actions and do not experience the pull of the muscles of the healthy side.
The fixation of the free end of the patch to the helmet must be rigid (even double folded) to keep healthy muscles in place. correct position.
Taping to reduce the palpebral fissure is carried out with one or two narrow strips of adhesive plaster, which is attached to the skin of the eyelid in the middle of the palpebral fissure and gently stretched outward, with the free end also attached to a fixed helmet. The narrower the palpebral fissure is when stretched, the easier it closes during involuntary blinking. In this way, the eye is naturally moistened with tears, which protects the cornea from drying out and ulceration.
After the treatment session, you need to lubricate the skin areas to which the patch was attached with nourishing creams.

sleep on your side (affected side);
chew food on both the affected and healthy sides;
sit for 10–15 minutes 3–4 times a day with your head tilted towards the affected side, supporting it with the back of your hand (resting on your elbow);
tie a scarf, pulling the muscles from the unaffected side to the affected side (bottom), while trying to restore the symmetry of the face.

Treatment by position should be carried out during the daytime, when motor functions are most necessary for the patient to perform household, work and therapeutic activities. Taping to reduce the palpebral fissure, aimed not only at eliminating the muscle defect, but also at preserving the cornea, is also used at night, when it is especially important that the eye is completely closed.
In the first days of the disease, adhesive plaster tension is carried out in fractions: 30–60 minutes 2–3 times a day (mainly during active facial actions: when eating, talking, communicating with relatives and doctors), then for 2–3 hours.
Physiotherapy
At this stage, it is carried out in small doses and is purely selective. The focus is on the muscles of the healthy side:

dosed tension and relaxation of individual muscles and whole muscle groups;
isolated tension (and relaxation) of those muscle groups that provide certain facial expressions (smile, laugh, etc.) or are actively involved in the articulation of certain labial sounds: [p], [b], [m], [v], [f] , [y], [o];
minimal muscle tension, especially in the muscles surrounding the mouth.

All these exercises for the muscles of the unaffected side are preliminary, training in nature and aimed at preparing for effective activities during the main period. A gymnastics session lasts 10–12 minutes and is repeated 2 times during the day.

Exercise therapy for facial neuritis: exercises

Gymnastics for neuritis or neuropathy can be performed individually or in a small group while sitting on a chair. The set of exercises is divided into three parts:

Exercises for the shoulder girdle. They are performed while sitting on a chair and are aimed at improving blood circulation in the neck and head. These may include moving the arm to the side (while you will need to look at it), placing the hand on the shoulders and rotating the arms clockwise and counterclockwise, raising and lowering the upper shoulder girdle, and so on.
Special exercises - facial gymnastics for neuritis of the facial nerve, aimed at the facial muscles of the mouth, eyebrows, eyes within the limits of symmetry, while it is important to prevent the face from skewing in the healthy direction. To do this, the muscles of the healthy side need to be intuitively held with your hands, making sure that they do not work completely. On the sore side, the muscles tighten, which helps to achieve normal symmetrical movement.
Exercises for the articulatory apparatus, which include the pronunciation of certain sounds and words.

Exercises for neuritis of the facial nerve for the facial muscles are performed between general strengthening exercises, since paretic facial muscles tend to get tired quickly. Also plays the role of execution breathing exercises, especially for speech disorders.

If the specified movements are difficult to reproduce, galvanization of the nerve exit site with a cathode is used to increase the conductivity of the facial nerve on the affected side. When current passes, facial movements on the affected area are easier. Also, therapeutic exercises can be carried out against the background of thermal procedures.

Preliminary massage

Before starting facial exercises for facial neuritis, it is recommended to get a massage. It involves the following sequence of actions:

With cleanly washed hands, you need to sit in front of the mirror and begin massaging your forehead. Your movements should be superficial and light, flat, not causing redness of the skin in the forehead area.
Afterwards, a massage is performed in the area of the eye sockets, during which you need to look down with your eyes closed (on the sore side, close the eye with 2-3 fingers). Start the massage from the inner corner of the eye to the outer and further to the parotid zone.
Then a massage is performed on the nasal area, starting from the wings of the nose and continuing to the parotid area.
Massage the area around the mouth: from the center of the mouth to the corner of the jaw.
Chin massage: from the middle of the chin to the corner of the jaw.
Neck massage along the front surface.
Then the head moves forward, backward, and to the sides.
Young and middle-aged people perform circular movements head.

After the massage, exercises for facial nerve paresis begin. They are performed 5-10 times.

Forehead wrinkling.
Closing the eyes.
Frowning brows.
Sucking in air through the nose.
Alternately closing the eyes (winking).
Movements of the nose are performed, simulating a feeling of dissatisfaction.
Then you need to bare your teeth.
Smile from the corner of the mouth (smirk).
Retraction of the cheeks by the oral cavity.
Puffing out cheeks.
Performing movements towards the lower jaw
The tongue moves in the oral cavity.
Rinse your mouth with air.
Then the mouth is rinsed with warm water.
The lips are pulled forward like a tube.
Whistling.
Consonant sounds are pronounced: B, M, P, X, C.
Vowel sounds are pronounced.

A set of exercises along with a preparatory massage is done every 2-3 hours throughout the day.

Gymnastics for the eyes for facial nerve paresis

Close your eyes tightly - 30 seconds.
Squint - 30 seconds.
Staring eyes - 30 seconds.
Then a normal look is made.
Wink 10 times alternately with your left and right eyes.
Stretch your hand forward, without taking your eyes off your index finger, move it to your nose, and then, touching your index finger with your nose, move your hand away. The exercise is repeated ten times.
Frown your eyebrows and make a “light” look.
Movements are performed eyeballs from right to left.
With three fingers of each hand, press upper eyelid for 1-2 seconds, repeat 3-4 times.
Using your index fingers, press the skin in the area of the eyebrows and gradually close your eyes. Use your fingers to hold the skin of the brow ridges, providing resistance to the muscles that close the eyes.
Using your index, middle and ring fingers, which are placed over your open eyes, close them, creating resistance. Repeat 8-10 times.
Close your eyes and smoothly rotate them in the following sequence: left, right, down, then in the opposite direction. Repeat 5-10 times in both directions.

Lip exercises

Exercise “Lips-Teeth” (pronounced U-I sounds), lips in a tube and in a smile.
The lips, elongated in a tube, turn right and left.
Raise and lower your upper lip.
Use your upper lip to scratch your upper teeth.
The teeth are grinned while the lips are pulled back on the right and left sides.
Exercise “Coachman” - the sound “prrrrr” is pronounced.
Whistle.
Fake spitting.

Tongue exercises

Raise your tongue by your lips and lower it by your lower teeth.
Raise your tongue to your upper lip and lower it onto your lower lip.
Place your tongue on each cheek with your mouth open.
Exercise “Painter” - you need to stroke the hard palate back and forth with your tongue.
The lips are licked with the tongue in a circular manner, first clockwise and then counterclockwise.
Place your tongue between your lips and blow hard.
Exercise “false candy” - rest your tongue on each cheek.
Exercise “Delicious jam”: lick jam or honey from your upper lip with your tongue.
Imitation of a cat lapping milk.
Exercise “angry turkey” - rapid movements on the upper lip with the tongue with the sounds bl-bl-bl.
Exercise “Woodpecker”: the sounds “ttttt”, “td-td-td”, “tdd-tdd-tdd”, “tdd-tdd-tdd” and so on are pronounced.
It is useful to roll a small cream or radish in your mouth with your tongue.
Using a brush cleared of bristles, work on the inner walls of the cheeks from the inside.

This facial gymnastics for facial nerve paresis will help you recover from a lesion much faster and forget about its unpleasant symptoms. It is important to do it regularly. Follow all the advice of experts, and then you will be able to minimize the unpleasant consequences of neuritis.

Rules for performing classes

It is important that exercise therapy for the face is carried out in compliance with certain conditions. On initial stage It is important to strictly follow the instructions of a specialist or do gymnastics in a physical therapy room with an instructor.

The rules for conducting classes are as follows:

Avoid asymmetry, help the facial muscles with your hands to maintain the symmetry of their movements;
In each specific exercise, allow those muscles that need to work to move, while others must be relaxed (in otherwise synkinesis may develop);
Give yourself a short rest after each exercise;
At first, train in front of a mirror to perform gymnastics correctly, later you can do it “automatically”;
On the healthy side, you can hold the muscles with your hand to keep them relaxed (if necessary).

The best gymnastics for losing weight on your face

Features of facial gymnastics for neuritis of the facial nerve

Laughter restores a smile. You can watch funny programs, read jokes. You need to prepare for laughter and hold the unaffected part of your face with your hand in advance to prevent the occurrence of asymmetry.
To further activate the nervous system, it is advisable to do it in your thoughts before performing muscular exercises. Experience shows that this enhances the effect.
After each exercise, you need to take a short break to relax your muscles.
Exercise therapy should be done with concentration, monitoring the behavior of the muscles, helping them with your hands to prevent the appearance of asymmetry.
Each muscle group has its own exercises; it is important to ensure that only they participate in the process. The rest of the face should remain relaxed. For example, if you bare your teeth, you don’t need to raise your eyebrows at the same time. This will lead in the future to the emergence of new friendly facial movements, which are very difficult to correct.

Important: gymnastics should be performed in strict compliance with the recommendations of specialists, slowly and consciously. Only in this case can you expect results. If approached incorrectly, it can turn out to be negative.

Exercises for the main period of therapy

Classes during the main period, which lasts up to 3 months, are aimed at restoring the facial activity of muscle tissue. At this time, it is important to involve all peripheral system muscles to achieve the desired effect.

The duration of position therapy at this time is increased to 6 hours per day. It is alternated with acupressure facial massage and exercise therapy.

During this period, physical therapy is the most important component of treatment. It is better to perform exercises in front of a mirror to observe facial changes. The first classes must be conducted under the guidance of an experienced exercise therapy instructor.

Note!
During training, control the symmetry of the movements performed! To achieve this, muscle movement on the part of the face undamaged by the disease is limited with the hand.

Let's look at examples of performing exercise therapy for neuritis of the facial nerve at this time:

Move your eyebrows down;
Close your eyes, shifting your gaze with closed eyelids, which you need to hold with your hand;
Smile without opening your mouth;
Squint;
Exhale air, vibrating your lips (snorting);
Flare nostrils;
Lift one and then the other lip successively so that the gum is visible;
To frown;
Smile with your mouth wide open;
Light a match and blow out its flame;
“Rinse” water in your mouth with your mouth closed, trying to “retain” all the liquid without spilling it;
Whistle;
Take air into your cheeks and release it;
Take air into your cheeks and “drive” it from one cheek to the other;
Lower the corners of your lips;
Stick out your tongue and try to roll it into a tube;
Show tongue;
Stick out your tongue, moving it left and right;
Close your mouth, fold your lips like a duck, stretching them forward;
Moving your finger in a circle, carefully follow it with your eyes;
Close your mouth and pull your cheeks in as much as possible;
Try to cover your lower lip with your upper lip;
Close your mouth and run your tongue along the gums from above and below.

Gymnastics are also performed to improve articulation abilities:

Draw out the sounds o, i, u;
“Cover” the upper row of teeth with your lower lip and pronounce p, f, v;
Say oh, pu, vo, fu, ko, fi;

Pronounce syllable by syllable words that contain the following syllables: i-vol-ga, o-kosh-ko, etc.
Once nerve conduction has been restored, resistance exercises can be used. The hand acts as a resistance tool. She “gets in the way” of doing necessary movements, thereby increasing muscle tension.

All exercises can be used 5 times each, taking short breaks to rest between them.

If the functionality of facial expressions cannot be fully restored, the exercises are distributed in such a way as to limit the moving part of the face. This technique will help “mask” the defect.

The effectiveness of massage for inflammation of the facial nerve

Correct execution of facial muscle massage techniques contributes to more rapid recovery motor function of facial muscles. However, treatment of facial neuritis is a rather long process that can take several months. For the first noticeable improvements, two to three weeks of daily facial massage are usually sufficient. In addition to manual procedures from a specialist, you can conduct self-massage sessions at home.

Main period of illness

During the main period of the disease (from the 10–12th day from the onset of the disease to 2–3 months), as a rule, restoration of the function of the affected muscles begins, but active treatment by means of exercise therapy must continue.
Treatment by position
Its duration increases to 4–6 hours a day, it alternates with exercise therapy and massage. The degree of tension of the adhesive plaster also increases, reaching hypercorrection - with a significant shift to the affected side, in order to achieve stretching and thereby weaken the strength of healthy muscles.
Physiotherapy
She plays a leading role during this period. It is performed by the patient in front of a mirror with the participation of a physical therapy instructor and must be repeated by the patient (according to a shortened program) independently (2-3 times during the day).
All exercises can be divided into several groups:

differentiated tensions of individual muscles and muscle groups;
dosed muscle tension, i.e. training them in a gradual contraction with increasing and decreasing strength;
conscious inclusion of muscles and muscle groups in various facial situations - smiling, laughter, sadness, surprise, etc.;
dosed tension during the articulation of various sounds, syllables, especially labial ones, requiring the participation of various muscle groups.

Special exercises for facial muscles:

raise eyebrows;
wrinkle your eyebrows (“frown”);
close your eyes (the sequence of performing this exercise is: look down; close your eyes, holding the eyelid with your fingers on the affected side, and keep your eyes closed for a minute; open and close your eyes 3 times in a row);
smile with your mouth closed;
squint;
lower your head down, take a breath and at the moment of exhalation “snort” (“vibrate” your lips);
whistle;
widen the nostrils;
raise the upper lip, exposing the upper teeth;
lower the lower lip, exposing the lower teeth;
smile with your mouth open;
extinguish a lit match;
take water into your mouth, close your mouth and rinse it, trying not to throw out the water;
puff out one's cheeks;
move air from one half of the mouth to the other alternately;
lower the corners of the mouth down with the mouth closed;
stick out your tongue and make it narrow;
open your mouth and move your tongue back and forth;
opening your mouth, move your tongue left and right;
stick your lips out like a tube;
follow with your eyes the finger moving in a circle;
suck in your cheeks with your mouth closed;
lower the upper lip onto the lower one;
move the tip of the tongue along the gums alternately in both directions with the mouth closed, pressing the tongue with varying degrees of force.

Exercises to improve articulation:

pronounce sounds [o], [i], [u];
pronounce the sounds [p], [f], [v], bringing the lower lip under the upper teeth;
pronounce a combination of these sounds: [oh], [fu], [fi], etc.;
pronounce words containing these sounds syllable by syllable (o-kosh-ko, Fek-la, i-zyum, pu-fik, Var-fo-lo-mei, i-vol-ga, etc.).

Before each exercise, be sure to relax the muscles, especially on the unaffected side. You should ensure that the movements are performed symmetrically. To do this, the patient must actively limit the range of motion on the unaffected side, holding it with his hand. On the affected side, exercises are performed passively with the hand, and when minimal active movements occur, they are performed actively with the hand. As movements are restored, the same exercises are performed with resistance (the hand interferes with the movement, requiring more muscle tension).
Each exercise is repeated 4-5 times with pauses for rest, eye exercises - 2-3 times. Procedures are carried out 2-3 times a day. Therapeutic exercises are prescribed daily for 2–3 weeks.
If the function of the facial muscles is not completely restored, the technique should be aimed at limiting the facial expressions of the unaffected half of the face, which helps to mask and compensate for the defect.

Residual stage

Starting from the 4th month of the development of the disease, with proper and regular training, a residual period begins. This is the time when there are clear improvements in the facial abilities of the affected half of the face, but residual symptoms are still preserved. The duration of the period is 2-3 months.

For good dynamics and consolidation of the results obtained, it is important to continue performing exercises from the main stage of training. the main task at this time, increase muscle activity to restore facial symmetry.

Facial neuritis is a disease in which inflammation of one or more nerve fibers occurs. It can occur for many reasons, but most often it happens as a result of infectious processes of viral or bacterial etiology.

The essence of treatment in this case is to eliminate the causative agent of the pathological process and relieve pain. However, in order to fully recover, these measures are not enough. That is why neurologists strongly recommend that patients additionally engage in physical therapy (physical therapy).

This may include:

massage;
gymnastics aimed at strengthening muscle fibers;
physical exercises to eliminate facial asymmetry;
procedures performed using medical equipment (physiotherapy).

Regardless of how clearly the neuropathy manifests itself, exercise therapy in any case must go through the basic, main and residual stages. Contraindications to performing exercise therapy can be attributed:

acute form of neuritis;
early postoperative period;
the presence of tumor processes in the affected area.

First stage

This period should last from 1 to 2 weeks. Specialists use a special device – a facial corset, which is fixed on the back of the head with adhesive tape. Its function is to maintain paralyzed muscles in an anatomically correct position. Externally, the corset is similar to a splint that is applied for fractures.

This mask brings the greatest benefit during sleep. With facial neuritis, many patients are unable to close the eye on the affected side. As a result, the cornea begins to become inflamed. For this reason, the corset is tightened before going to bed, making the palpebral fissure smaller.

If you do not start therapy at the basic stage, the patient may face severe consequences in the future. For example, paralyzed muscle tissue will not allow healthy muscles to function normally, resulting in their atrophy over time.

Exercise therapy for facial neuritis at the basic stage of treatment consists of maintaining the functions of healthy muscles and performing light exercises for the affected area. There are no specific features of performing the exercises in this case.

However, during this period the patient should use facial muscles (smile, frown) as often as possible. There is no need to strain yourself too much. Thus, muscle tone will increase and blood circulation will improve. You should spend about 15 minutes doing these exercises every day.

Before starting exercise, experts advise warming up and relaxing your muscles. This can be done with the following massage:

After completing the basic course, the patient must visit the attending physician. He will evaluate possible changes and, if necessary, give individual recommendations. It is not worth moving from the basic stage to the main one on your own, since during this period any incorrect action by the patient can provoke a rapid worsening of his problem.

Basic set of exercises

Its duration is about 2-3 months. During this period, the patient must continue to wear a support corset. In addition, he should train facial muscles, but more actively, and take vitamin and mineral complexes for the nervous system. Starting from the main stage, patients can undergo physiotherapeutic treatment.

In addition, at the main stage, experts advise:

To enhance the effect, the patient can perform any movements that are associated with the manifestation of emotions. It is better to conduct classes in front of a mirror. In this way, you can understand how correctly all actions are performed.

Ideally, exercise therapy for facial neuritis should be performed at least 3 times a day. In addition, there are various complexes exercises for neuropathy that differ from the classic ones. They are more like speech therapy trainings.

During their execution, you need to open your mouth, stick out your tongue and make various movements with it. These exercises improve muscle function and increase their tone. During these workouts, it is very important not to overexert yourself, as this may worsen the disease.

As performance improves facial muscles the patient can begin to perform new exercises and devote more time to gymnastics. During treatment, the patient must rest fully. The total number of hours spent on physical activity should not exceed 1 hour.

To enhance the effect at the main stage, you can perform the following actions:

observe an object that is moving;
move your eyes without turning your neck;
take air into your mouth and hold it for 10 seconds;
“vibrate” your lips.

In addition to therapeutic exercises, it is very important that the patient devotes time to training designed to improve speech.

If at the basic stage to train muscles it is enough to pronounce only vowels and consonants, now he should try to pronounce words out loud syllable by syllable. For example: cat, yab-lo-ko, po-go-da. It is better to do this after completing a physical therapy session, since at this time the muscles are maximally warmed up. After completing the procedures, the patient can perform a relaxing self-massage.

Completion of therapy

The residual stage can last indefinitely. You should not expect quick results from exercise therapy and massages. In severe cases of inflammation of the facial nerve, the patient may be left with slight defects that cannot be eliminated either with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures or exercise therapy.

This is due to the fact that the transmission of nerve impulses is not always completely restored. However, in any case, patients should perform the exercises regularly. As a rule, with their help it is possible to significantly reduce facial asymmetry and improve speech.

There is no need to use a corset during the residual stage. However, it is worth continuing to perform the exercises of the basic and residual stages. It is also advisable to continue working on your speech. This way you can easily develop muscles throughout your face.

After completing the basic treatment, patients are no longer tormented by the inflammatory process, so bending and shaking the head can be added.

It is necessary to perform exercises in front of a mirror to ensure that the movements are performed correctly.

In most cases, facial asymmetry and speech disorders go away over time, but for this you need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions.

In this case, facial gymnastics can be quite effective. Each action must be performed 6 times, but over time this number can be increased to 20. You can use a set of exercises with the following sequence of their implementation:

Laughter helps restore your smile. If after treatment there are no visible improvements, the patient should return to the main stage and add bending and turning the head, and physical therapy.

Inflammation of the facial nerve not only causes painful sensations in the patient, but also affects the functionality of the muscles and appearance faces. Therefore, the fight against the disease should include both medication and physical intervention. Physical therapy methods in this case are effective and help to completely restore the muscles of the damaged area of the face

Panina Valentina Viktorovna

Actress, Honored Artist of the RSFSR

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I found out about you on the Internet - I urgently need an MRI.

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May everything be as good in your soul as I am now, despite all the problems...

Be!!! We're happy! Your Panina V.V.

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I found out about you on the Internet - I urgently need an MRI.

And after the performance I’m with you. I really liked your staff. Thank you for your attention, kindness and accuracy.

May everything be as good in your soul as I am now, despite all the problems...

Be!!! We're happy! Your Panina V.V.

I found out about you on the Internet - I urgently need an MRI.

And after the performance I’m with you. I really liked your staff. Thank you for your attention, kindness and accuracy.

May everything be as good in your soul as I am now, despite all the problems...

Be!!! We're happy! Your Panina V.V.

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Sergei Shnurov

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For neuritis of the facial nerve, means of therapeutic physical culture - positioning treatment, massage, therapeutic exercises - can be used from the first days of the disease.

From the first days of the course of neuritis of the facial nerve, you can use means of therapeutic physical education (physical therapy) - positional treatment, massage, therapeutic exercises. They help improve blood circulation in the face, especially on the affected side; restore impaired function of facial muscles, prevent the development of contractures and conjugate movements (syncinesia); restore correct pronunciation. In case of severe nerve damage that is difficult to treat, the task of exercise therapy is to weaken facial expressions in order to hide facial defects. Exercise therapy is also successfully used for residual effects and complications (contractures, concomitant movements) of the disease.

Neuritis of the facial nerve is the most common among lesions of other cranial
nerves and ranks second among diseases of the peripheral nervous system,
second only to lumbosacral radiculitis.

Early period of rehabilitation treatment

In the early period of recovery treatment (days 1-10 of illness), positional treatment, massage and therapeutic exercises are used.

It is used to eliminate facial asymmetry and consists of adhesive plaster tension (taping) from the healthy side of the face to the affected one. It is directed against the pull of the muscles of the healthy side and is carried out by firmly fixing the other free end of the patch to a special helmet-mask, made individually for each patient from a bandage (see figure).

Taping rules:

Correction of the muscles of the healthy side should be carried out with such force that the antagonist muscles of the affected side are sufficiently free in their actions and do not experience the pull of the muscles of the healthy side.
The fixation of the free end of the patch to the helmet must be rigid (even double-folded) to keep healthy muscles in the correct position.
Taping to reduce the palpebral fissure is carried out with one or two narrow strips of adhesive tape, which is attached to the skin of the eyelid in the middle of the palpebral fissure and gently stretched outward and upward, with the free end also attached to a fixed helmet. The narrower the palpebral fissure is when stretched, the easier it closes during involuntary blinking. In this way, the eye is naturally moistened with tears, which protects the cornea from drying out and ulceration.
After the treatment session, you need to lubricate the skin areas to which the patch was attached with nourishing creams.

sleep on your side (affected side);
chew food on both the affected and healthy sides;
sit for 10-15 minutes 3-4 times a day with your head tilted towards the affected side, supporting it with the back of your hand (resting on your elbow);
tie a scarf, pulling the muscles from the unaffected side to the affected side (from bottom to top), while trying to restore the symmetry of the face.

Treatment by position should be carried out during the daytime, when motor functions are most necessary for the patient to perform household, work and therapeutic activities. Taping to reduce the palpebral fissure, aimed not only at eliminating the muscle defect, but also at preserving the cornea, is also used at night, when it is especially important that the eye is completely closed.
In the first days of the disease, adhesive plaster tension is carried out in fractions: 30-60 minutes 2-3 times a day (mainly during active facial actions: when eating, talking, communicating with relatives and doctors), then - 2-3 hours.

Physiotherapy
At this stage, it is carried out in small doses and is purely selective. The focus is on the muscles of the healthy side:

dosed tension and relaxation of individual muscles and entire muscle groups;
isolated tension (and relaxation) of those muscle groups that provide certain facial expressions (smile, laugh, etc.) or are actively involved in the articulation of certain labial sounds: [p], [b], [m], [v], [f] , [y], [o];
minimal muscle tension, especially in the muscles surrounding the mouth.

All these exercises for the muscles of the unaffected side are of a preliminary, training nature and are aimed at preparing for effective exercise in the main period. A gymnastics session lasts 10-12 minutes and is repeated 2 times during the day.

Main period of illness

During the main period of the disease (from the 10-12th day from the onset of the disease to 2-3 months), as a rule, restoration of the function of the affected muscles begins, but active treatment with exercise therapy must be continued.

Its duration increases to 4-6 hours a day, it alternates with exercise therapy and massage. The degree of tension of the adhesive plaster also increases, reaching hypercorrection - with a significant shift to the affected side, in order to achieve stretching and thereby weaken the strength of healthy muscles.

Physiotherapy
She plays a leading role during this period. It is performed by the patient in front of a mirror with the participation of a physical therapy instructor and must be repeated by the patient (according to a shortened program) independently (2-3 times during the day).
All exercises can be divided into several groups:

differentiated tensions of individual muscles and muscle groups;
dosed muscle tension, i.e. training them in a gradual contraction with increasing and decreasing strength;
conscious inclusion of muscles and muscle groups in various facial situations - smiling, laughter, grief, surprise, etc.;
dosed tension during the articulation of various sounds, syllables, especially labial ones, requiring the participation of various muscle groups.

Special exercises for facial muscles:

raise eyebrows;
wrinkle your eyebrows (“frown”);
close your eyes (the sequence of performing this exercise is: look down; close your eyes, holding the eyelid with your fingers on the affected side, and keep your eyes closed for a minute; open and close your eyes 3 times in a row);
smile with your mouth closed;
squint;
lower your head down, take a breath and at the moment of exhalation “snort” (“vibrate” your lips);
whistle;
widen the nostrils;
raise the upper lip, exposing the upper teeth;
lower the lower lip, exposing the lower teeth;
smile with your mouth open;
extinguish a lit match;
take water into your mouth, close your mouth and rinse it, trying not to throw out the water;
puff out one's cheeks;
move air from one half of the mouth to the other alternately;
lower the corners of the mouth down with the mouth closed;
stick out your tongue and make it narrow;
open your mouth and move your tongue back and forth;
opening your mouth, move your tongue left and right;
stick your lips out like a tube;
follow with your eyes the finger moving in a circle;
suck in your cheeks with your mouth closed;
lower the upper lip onto the lower one;
move the tip of the tongue along the gums alternately in both directions with the mouth closed, pressing the tongue with varying degrees of force.

Exercises to improve articulation:

pronounce sounds [o], [i], [u];
pronounce the sounds [p], [f], [v], bringing the lower lip under the upper teeth;
pronounce a combination of these sounds: [oh], [fu], [fi], etc.;
pronounce words containing these sounds syllable by syllable (o-kosh-ko, Fek-la, i-zyum, pu-fik, Var-fo-lo-mei, i-vol-ga, etc.).

Before each exercise, be sure to relax the muscles, especially on the unaffected side. You should ensure that the movements are performed symmetrically. To do this, the patient must actively limit the range of motion on the unaffected side, holding it with his hand. On the affected side, exercises are performed passively with the hand, and when minimal active movements occur, they are performed actively with the hand. As movements are restored, the same exercises are performed with resistance (the hand interferes with the movement, requiring more muscle tension).
Each exercise is repeated 4-5 times with pauses for rest, eye exercises - 2-3 times. Procedures are carried out 2-3 times a day. Therapeutic exercises are prescribed daily for 2-3 weeks.
If the function of the facial muscles is not completely restored, the technique should be aimed at limiting the facial expressions of the unaffected half of the face, which helps to mask and compensate for the defect.

Period of residual effects

During the period of residual effects (after 3 months from the onset of the disease), all types of exercise therapy, applied in the main period, focusing on therapeutic exercises, the task of which is to increase muscle activity to recreate maximum symmetry between the unaffected and affected sides of the face. During the same period, the training of muscle efforts in various facial situations increases.

According to consolidated world medical statistics, neuritis of the facial nerve
observed in residents of various countries in approximately 2-3% of all cases
diseases of the peripheral nervous system, comprising
from 16 to 25 cases per 100 thousand population.

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