Pre- and Post-op Rehabilitation in Facial Palsy Patients

The aim of the rehabilitation in facial paralysis is the optimal functional recovery. The therapeutic options in the rehabilitation setting include facial exercise therapy (physiotherapy, mirror therapy), electromyography-biofeedback, electrotherapy, massage, lymphatic drainage, and botulinum toxin injections. Facial exercises of the mimic muscles are the basic intervention and try to preserve muscular tone and activity, trophism, facial symmetry and to avoid abnormal movement pattern. Therapeutic strategies are based on the severity and course of the disease. An important aim is to avoid or control synkinesis and muscular spasm. An overview of the general principles of the various therapeutic options is given. Suggestions for pre- and postoperative interventions are made. Methods of the clinical evaluation, the grading of the facial nerve function, and follow-up assessments are presented.