ABSTRACT
Individuals with facial paralysis and distorted facial expressions and movements secondary
to a facial neuromotor disorder experience substantial physical, psychological, and
social disability. Previously, facial rehabilitation has not been widely available
or considered to be of much benefit. An emerging rehabilitation science of neuromuscular
reeducation and evidence for the efficacy of facial neuromuscular reeducation, a process
of facilitating the return of intended facial movement patterns and eliminating unwanted
patterns of facial movement and expression, may provide patients with disorders of
facial paralysis or facial movement control opportunity for the recovery of facial
movement and function. We provide a brief overview of the scientific rationale for
facial neuromuscular reeducation in the structure and function of the facial neuromotor
system, the neuropsychology of facial expression, and relations among expressions,
movement, and emotion. The primary purpose is to describe principles of neuromuscular
reeducation, assessment and outcome measures, approach to treatment, the process,
including surface-electromyographic biofeedback as an adjunct to reeducation, and
the goal of enhancing the recovery of facial expression and function in a patient-centered
approach to facial rehabilitation.
KEYWORDS
Facial rehabilitation - neuromuscular reeducation - facial paralysis
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Jessie VanSwearingenPh.D. P.T.
University of Pittsburgh, Department Physical Therapy, 6035 Forbes Tower
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
