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Can I Massage Face When Diagnosed With Bells Palsy?
Question: i was diagnosed with bells palsy yesterday morning. I have seen nurmerous does and don't's about facial message. should or should I not message my face?
Brief Answer:
Massage has to be done with caution.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Yes face massage these days is associated with idiopathic bells palsy.
I do not recommend complete avoidance of massage,but advise great degree of care to be executed while exerting pressure around the front of the upper part of ear from where the facial nerve exists and divides into branches.
Also the massage has to be gentle throughout.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Massage has to be done with caution.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Yes face massage these days is associated with idiopathic bells palsy.
I do not recommend complete avoidance of massage,but advise great degree of care to be executed while exerting pressure around the front of the upper part of ear from where the facial nerve exists and divides into branches.
Also the massage has to be gentle throughout.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. can you please explain the message a little simpler and with more detail. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Procedure described in detail.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Typical face massage should not exceed 20 min.Otherwise results will be opposite.
Typical techniques for face massage include the following.
1. Stroking Up From The Chin
Start with your hands on either side of your face; with your palms and fingertips, stroke slowly up the sides of the face and up to the forehead, then glide back down again lightly. Keep the pressure constant but not firm. Repeat three times. The emphasis in this movement is pressure up the face, and then easing off.
2. Stroking Out Over The Forehead
Place your fingertips together in the middle of your forehead, press firmly, and glide out to the sides. Lift the fingers off, returning to the starting position. Repeat three times. This movement smooths out the forehead.
3. Stroking Around The Eyes
Using only a minimal amount of oil to ease the movement, place your fingertips at the sides of your eyes and stroke around the bony edge of the eye socket. Work up over the eyebrows, down the center of the nose, under the eyes, and back to the starting position. Repeat three times. This movement helps to improve eyestrain and the oil lubricates the skin in the orbital eye area.
4. Stroking Under The Cheekbones
Starting close to the nose, with your hands on the inner side of each cheek, make small circular pressure motions all the way out toward your ears. Give special attention to the area just under the ear (the location of the temporo-mandibular joint), then massage back toward the nose. Repeat this sequence three times. This movement tones the cheek muscles, which work very hard making facial expressions every day.
Post your further queries if any,
Thank you.
Procedure described in detail.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Typical face massage should not exceed 20 min.Otherwise results will be opposite.
Typical techniques for face massage include the following.
1. Stroking Up From The Chin
Start with your hands on either side of your face; with your palms and fingertips, stroke slowly up the sides of the face and up to the forehead, then glide back down again lightly. Keep the pressure constant but not firm. Repeat three times. The emphasis in this movement is pressure up the face, and then easing off.
2. Stroking Out Over The Forehead
Place your fingertips together in the middle of your forehead, press firmly, and glide out to the sides. Lift the fingers off, returning to the starting position. Repeat three times. This movement smooths out the forehead.
3. Stroking Around The Eyes
Using only a minimal amount of oil to ease the movement, place your fingertips at the sides of your eyes and stroke around the bony edge of the eye socket. Work up over the eyebrows, down the center of the nose, under the eyes, and back to the starting position. Repeat three times. This movement helps to improve eyestrain and the oil lubricates the skin in the orbital eye area.
4. Stroking Under The Cheekbones
Starting close to the nose, with your hands on the inner side of each cheek, make small circular pressure motions all the way out toward your ears. Give special attention to the area just under the ear (the location of the temporo-mandibular joint), then massage back toward the nose. Repeat this sequence three times. This movement tones the cheek muscles, which work very hard making facial expressions every day.
Post your further queries if any,
Thank you.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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