11 Easy Bell’s Palsy Exercises for Facial Weakness

• Bell’s Palsy is a condition that causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face.
• It can affect anyone at any age but is more common in people between 15 and 60.
• The exact cause of Bell’s Palsy is unknown, but it is thought to be linked to viral infections, inflammation, and nerve damage.
• Several exercises, such as facial massage, eye exercises, and tongue exercises, can help recover Bell’s palsy.
• These exercises can improve facial muscle strength, mobility, and control and may also reduce pain and discomfort associated with the condition.

Bell’s Palsy is a condition in which one side of the face is paralyzed. People with Bell’s palsy have common problems like being unable to close the eye fully on the affected side, having the corner of the mouth drop, and in severe cases, having the corner of the affected side’s nose also drop. They also have an inability to smile properly and difficulty chewing food on the affected side.

How early physiotherapeutic intervention (faradic stimulation) and exercises give good outcomes. In this article, we will learn easy facial exercises to strengthen the small muscles of the face, thereby improving the symptoms of bells palsy.

11 Easy home facial muscle exercises for Bell’s palsy

Ideally, the exercises should begin immediately after stabilising the associated medical condition. However, in a few cases, the sufferer is initially unable to do the exercises due to weakness. In such a situation, your physiotherapist may initiate electrical stimulation.

An interrupted galvanic stimulation is given on the motor points of the face on the affected side. Along with stimulation, the exercises are initiated. General instruction before carrying out facial exercises:

1. Exercises have to be continued till you get rid of the problem.
2. Make a routine to exercise at least thrice a day.
3. Choose a quiet room so that you can concentrate on exercise.
4. Exercise has to be done in front of the mirror so that you can see and rectify any errors.
5. Sit or stand at least at a distance of 1 foot from the mirror.
6. If in any doubt, immediately consult your physiotherapist.

Please note that exercise is essential, but it is not the replacement for regular physiotherapy treatment you receive from a qualified physiotherapist. So, let us start with eye exercises.

Eye exercises for Bell’s Palsy

The exercises we are covering under this subheading are not precisely eye exercises. These exercises are meant to recover the strength of the muscles around the eyes; the action of this muscle is essential to close and open the eyelids. However, if you also have issues with squint eye, then you should follow these 7 Easy Eye Muscle Exercises to strengthen the eye muscles.

#1 Opening the eyes wide open

This exercise for Bell’s Palsy aims to help strengthen the muscles around the eyes.

1. To perform the exercise, begin by fully opening your eyes.
2. Hold this wide-open eye position for a few seconds, and
3. Then slowly close your eyes and hold for a few seconds.
4. Repeat this process of opening and closing your eyes about 10-15 times, ensuring that you do not strain your eyes while doing so. You can also try blinking your eyes rapidly for a few seconds, closing your eyes, and relaxing for a few seconds before repeating the same process.

#2 Close the eyes & squeeze it

The next exercise is closing and squeezing the eyes. You may not be able to close your eyes completely, but you have to try. While closing your eyes, you have to squeeze your eyes slightly.

1. To perform this exercise, start by sitting comfortably with your eyes open.
2. Then, slowly close your affected eye and gently squeeze it shut for a few seconds.
3. Hold the squeeze for 5-10 seconds, and then release.
4. Repeat this exercise several times throughout the day, aiming for 10-15 repetitions each time.

#3 Screw up the whole face & hold it for 30 sec.

The exercise for Bell’s Palsy involves scrunching up your entire face and holding it for 30 seconds. Here’s how to perform the exercise in a detailed manner:

1. Start by sitting comfortably, with your back straight and your head facing forward.
2. Take a deep breath in and out to relax your body.
3. Next, scrunch up your entire face by squeezing your eyes shut, puckering your lips, and wrinkling your nose.
4. Hold this position for 30 seconds, making sure to keep your facial muscles tense the entire time.
5. After 30 seconds, slowly release the tension in your face and take a deep breath in and out to relax your muscles.
6. Repeat this exercise two to three times per day, or as recommended by your doctor or physical therapist.

This exercise aims to strengthen the muscles around the eye and mouth, which can help improve facial muscle control and reduce the appearance of drooping. It’s important to remember to do this exercise as much as is comfortable and to avoid pushing yourself too hard.

#4 Wrinkling the forehead vertically

This exercise is aimed at strengthening the muscles of your forehead. It’s a simple exercise that involves forming wrinkles on your forehead. This exercise targets two types of wrinkles and will help you work out these muscles.

The first type is vertical wrinkles, for this:

1. Stand in front of a mirror and place the fingertips of both hands just above your eyebrows.
2. Gently apply pressure to your forehead and pull your eyebrows towards your eyes to create vertical wrinkles.
3. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds, then release and relax your forehead muscles.
4. By repeating this exercise regularly, you can gradually improve the appearance of your forehead and strengthen the underlying muscles.

#5 Wrinkling the forehead vertically

1. After completing the vertical wrinkling motion, place your fingertips on the outside edges of your eyebrows.
2. Again, apply gentle pressure and try to wrinkle your forehead horizontally by pulling your eyebrows together towards the centre of your face.
3. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds, then release and relax your forehead muscles.

Repeat both vertical and horizontal exercises 5-10 times, several times a day. This exercise can help to strengthen the muscles in your forehead and improve your ability to control your facial expressions. It is important to note that any facial exercise should be done gently without causing pain or discomfort.

#6 Dilating the nose

The next exercise focuses on strengthening the muscles around your nose through dilation. This exercise is simple yet effective in toning the muscles in and around your nostrils.

1. To perform this exercise, begin by focusing on your nostrils. Try to consciously dilate or widen them as much as possible and hold that position for a few seconds.
2. Then, slowly release the dilation and allow your nostrils to relax.
3. Repeat this process of dilation and relaxation 10 to 15 times in a session.

Lip exercises for Bell’s palsy

#7 Inflating the cheek

The next exercise for Bell’s palsy involves strengthening the muscles around the lips, which can become weakened due to the condition. To perform this exercise:

1. Start by taking a deep breath and inflating your cheeks with air, making them as big as possible.
2. While doing so, try to prevent any air leakage through the corner of your lips on the affected, paralyzed side. This can be challenging as Bell’s palsy can make it difficult to lock your lips tightly. Try to minimize the air leakage as much as possible by using your facial muscles to keep the air in your cheeks.
3. Hold this position for a few seconds and then release the air slowly.
4. Repeat this exercise for 10 to 15 times in a single session.

#8 Pressing the lips

The next exercise to strengthen the muscles of our lips involves pressing them together.

1. To perform this exercise, start by positioning your upper and lower lips together and pressing them towards each other.
2. Hold this position for 5 seconds, feeling the tension in your lips as they work to stay pressed together.
3. Then, release your lips and take a moment to relax them.
4. Repeat this process 10 to 15 times in a single session, allowing your lips to rest for a few seconds between each repetition.

#9 Stretch mouth corner and try squeeze mouth

The next exercise is designed to strengthen the muscles at the corner of the lips.

1. To perform this exercise, you should start by placing your thumb and index finger on the two corners of your lips.
2. Once you have a good grip, gently stretch your lips outwards using your fingers.
3. As you stretch your lips outwards, try to use the muscles in your lips and mouth to squeeze them inwards. This inward squeezing will create a resistance against the outward pulling of your fingers, allowing you to effectively work the muscles in the corner of your lips.
4. Try to repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times in a single session for best results.

#10 Showing teeth and raising the upper lip

1. To perform the teeth display exercise, start by standing in front of a mirror or sitting up straight in a comfortable position.
2. Begin by spreading your lips apart, as if you are trying to show both your upper and lower teeth at the same time.
3. Hold this position for a few seconds, making sure to keep your lips pulled back and your teeth fully visible.

Next, move on to the smiling exercise.

1. To do this, gently raise your upper lip to expose your upper teeth while maintaining a relaxed and natural expression.
2. Avoid over-smiling or straining your facial muscles, as this can detract from the symmetry of your smile.

#11 Stroking upward

This paralysis can cause the facial muscles on the affected side to sag downwards, resulting in an asymmetrical facial appearance. To prevent this sagging, there is a simple exercise that can be done using your hands.

1. To do this exercise, start by placing your fingertips on the affected side of your face, just above your eyebrows.
2. Gently stroke your fingers upwards, along your forehead and scalp, until you reach your hairline.
3. Then, move your fingers down to your cheekbone and stroke upwards towards your ear.
4. Repeat this motion several times, always stroking upwards in the direction of your ear.
5. It’s important to avoid stroking downwards, as this can worsen the already sagging facial muscles. By stroking upwards, you are helping to tone and lift the facial muscles, which can improve the appearance of the affected side of your face.

#12 Inflating balloon, making bubbles on water

Now comes the exercise, such as inflating the balloon and making Bubbles on a glass of water using a straw. The purpose of all the other exercises is to strengthen the muscles of our Lips.

1. To perform this exercise, first, fill a bowl or sink with water.
2. Then, blow air through a straw into the water to create bubbles.
3. Try blowing as many bubbles as possible and keep blowing for as long as possible.

This exercise is beneficial for individuals with Bell’s Palsy because it helps strengthen the facial muscles and improve control over the lips and mouth. It also helps stimulate blood flow to the affected area, aiding the healing process.

It is essential to start with shorter periods of blowing bubbles and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable. For best results, it is also recommended that you perform this exercise multiple times daily.

A case study and what causes Bell’s palsy

In our clinical setup, we get many Bell’s palsy cases to deal with. Let me proceed with this article with a few accounts from my bell’s palsy cases.

A female of 53 years old says that when she woke up in the morning, she felt pain on the right side of her face, and it was difficult to brush her teeth. It was challenging to take breakfast as she could chew food from her teeth. A computer professional had his own experience with Bell’s Palsy. “I came back from the office, and before dinner, I observed something different when I went to wash my face. It felt slightly difficult to blow out water from my mouth. In the mirror, I could make out the left corner of the mouth dropped and could not close my eyes full,” said the 42-year-old techie.

Weakness on one side of the face is a severe problem. With early physiotherapeutic intervention, full recovery is possible. So, let us understand what Bell’s Palsy is and how it can be effectively managed.

What causes Bell’s Palsy?

Bell’s Palsy is a condition that causes sudden paralysis of the facial muscles on one side of the face. It occurs due to damage to the seventh cranial nerve’s peripheral fibres, also known as the facial nerve.

Bell’s Palsy is the most common cause of lower motor neuron facial palsy. Its function is responsible for voluntary and mimetic facial movement, taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, and control of salivary gland and lacrimal gland secretions¹.

So, it is paralysis of the muscles of the face on either the right side or the left side. If the facial nerve is damaged on the right side, it causes the right side of Bell’s Palsy. The damage to the nerve occurs once it comes out of the skull. Let us go through a bit of anatomy to understand it.

Did you know that our face is made up of 43 small muscles? These muscles are responsible for all the movements and expressions on our faces. So, the next time you enjoy your favourite meal or share a smile, remember that it’s because of the complex coordination of your facial muscles.

These movements of muscle happen due to the action of the facial nerve. So, the facial nerve is also known as the ‘nerve of facial expression’. Any damage to the facial nerve causes paralysis of the facial muscle. Any damage to the peripheral fibres of the facial nerve leads to Bell’s Palsy. The cause of damage may differ, but it leads to paralysis and weakness of all the muscles it supplies to the face.

Damage to peripheral fibres of the facial nerve can be due to:

1. Infection of the middle ear.
2. Any fracture on the skull.
3. Any inflammation inside the ear.

Final word

There are other serious causes of facial paralysis. Sometimes, it is associated with brain haemorrhage and hemiplegia. What we have discussed above is Bell’s Palsy. If you are a Bell’s palsy sufferer, your early visit to a physiotherapist will benefit you immensely.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bell’s Palsy Exercises:

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Sunit. S. Ekka

Dr Sunit Sanjay Ekka is a physiotherapist in practice for the last 15 years. He has done his BPT from one of the premium Central Government physiotherapy colleges, ie, SVNIRTAR. The patient is his best teacher and whatever he gets to learn he loves to share it on his Youtube channel and blog.