Bell's Palsy and Facial Retraining

Do you know anyone with Bell's Palsy? It's an unusual question but this sudden onset of paralysis/droop to one side of the face affects 40,000 Americans every year. It's believed to be caused by the same herpes virus that causes a cold sore.

In 85% of patients that get Bell's Palsy, the facial paralysis will resolve on its own without any treatment within three months. The other 15% will have lingering nerve issues and asymmetry to the face. And that's where Jackie Diels come in! In our podcast with Jackie, an occupational therapist, she discusses how she treats patients with synkinesis, an abnormal rewiring of the facial muscles after Bell's Palsy.

Hear how she teaches patients to "turn off" the abnormal movements through facial retraining. She sees most of her patients via Skype these days because people seek her out for help from across the country. After listening to her in this podcast, you'll understand why she's so popular. Through the use of metaphors and analogies, she has an incredibly clear way of teaching the patient how to improve their facial symmetry and smile.

For more information or questions about Bell's Palsy or facial retraining, email Jackie at [email protected] or send her a message through the comments sections on our show notes page at www.buildmybod.com/blog.

Listen to more of the BuildMyBod Health Podcast by clicking here. And if you have an interesting story to tell and want to be a part of the BuildMyBod Health podcast, email us at [email protected]