Physiotherapy for Facial Nerve Palsy: Should “Facial Discomfort” Be the Primary Therapeutic Target?

Hohman MH , Hadlock TA . Etiology, diagnosis, and management of facial palsy: 2000 patients at a facial nerve center. Laryngoscope., 2014; 124(7):E283–E293; doi: 10.1002/lary.24542

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Bell’s palsy | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE. 2023. [Last accessed: May 19, 2025].

Valente SM . Visual disfigurement and depression. Plast Surg Nurs., 2009; 29(1):10–16; doi: 10.1097/01.psn.0000347718.75285.23

Khan AJ , Szczepura A , Palmer S , et al. Physical therapy for facial nerve paralysis (Bell’s palsy): An updated and extended systematic review of the evidence for facial exercise therapy. Clin Rehabil., 2022; 36(11):1424–1449; doi: 10.1177/02692155221110727

Huang X , Wang W , Ding W . Mechanisms and management of postparalysis facial synkinesis. Chinese Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery., 2021; 3(2):89–94; doi: 10.1016/s2096-6911(21)00089-3

Neville C , Beurskens C , Diels J , et al. Consensus among international facial therapy experts for the management of adults with unilateral facial palsy: A two-stage Nominal Group and Delphi Study. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med., 2024; 26(4):405–417; doi: 10.1089/fpsam.2023.0101