Facial Rehabilitation

Course Description:

“The face is the image of the soul….we use it to smile, laugh, cry, pucker our lips to blow a kiss.  We use our facial muscles to eat and to drink. It’s the expression of our emotion and we wear them all the time.” We take the movement of our face for granted – until it isn’t there.  There are several causes of facial palsy, and it is important that we understand how we can best treat our patients. 

Mara Wernick Robinson, PT, MS, walks us through an in-depth look at Facial Rehabilitation and how therapists can be beneficial and provide optimal patient care.  This course will cover:

*How to identify the course of the facial nerve and the relationship to the etiology of facial palsy
*How to evaluate a patient with peripheral unilateral facial palsy
*How to use appropriate rehabilitation strategies for and to address impairments and functional limitations commonly seen in facial palsy
*How to identify and treat synkinesis using therapy strategies and recognize the timing and need for Botox and surgery

Methods of Instruction:

Online audio/video course

Course Instructor:

Mara Wernick Robinson, PT, MS

Target Audience:

Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants and Athletic Trainers.

Educational Level:

Intermediate

Prerequisites:

None

Course Goals and Objectives:

At the completion of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Identify and differentiate between the Facial Nerve: Intracranial Branches
2. Differentiate between the causes of Facial Palsy: Bell’s Palsy, Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, Lyme Disease, Benign Tumors, Acoustic Neuroma, Parotid Gland Tumor, Temporal Bone Fracture, Autoimmune Diseases, etc
3. Recognize the signs & symptoms/prognosis/treatment of Bell’s Palsy
4. Identify the signs & symptoms of synkinesis
5. Identify the keys to a thorough evaluation of facial palsy- including how to use special tests
6. Recognize the functional limitations and disability of facial palsy
7. Identify appropriate Initiation Interventions/Facilitation Interventions/Relaxation Interventions
8. Recognize the goals for Neuromuscular Retraining
9. Identify the proper timing of Botulinum Toxin for synkinesis
10. Differentiate between the types of Smile Reanimation surgery

Criteria for Obtaining Continuing Education Credits:

A score of 70% or greater on the post-test