Facial Palsy Exercises Step by Step: A Practical Home Guide for Bell’s Palsy
A practical guide to facial palsy and Bell’s palsy exercises at home — core forehead, eye and mouth exercises, how many repetitions, and the mistakes to avoid.
After a facial nerve palsy diagnosis, most people ask: “What can I do at home to help my face recover?” The answer is guided facial exercises. Here are the key exercises, how to do them correctly, and the mistakes that slow recovery.
Before you start: make sure your condition is diagnosed and your doctor approves exercising, especially in the first weeks.
Golden rules
- Always use a mirror to watch both sides.
- Move slowly and gently — control beats force.
- Small symmetrical movements beat big uneven ones. If the healthy side pulls, stop halfway.
- Hold 3–5 seconds, then fully relax.
- 5–10 repetitions per exercise, 2–3 sessions a day, is usually enough.
- Stop if you feel pain and ask your therapist.
Warm-up: facial massage (2 minutes)
With your fingertips, massage the forehead in small circles from the center outward, the cheek from the mouth corner toward the ear, and around the lips — lightly, moving only the skin.
Forehead
- Eyebrow raise: lift your eyebrows slowly as if surprised; hold, relax. Assist the weak side with a finger if needed.
- Frown: draw your eyebrows together and down, then relax slowly.
Eyes
- Gentle eye closure: close your eyes slowly without squeezing; hold, open slowly. Assist the lid with a finger if it doesn’t fully close.
- Controlled blinking: blink slowly and consciously, keeping both eyes together.
Nose
- Nose wrinkle: wrinkle your nose upward as if smelling something unpleasant; try flaring your nostrils too.
Mouth and cheeks
- Closed-lip smile: a small smile with lips closed, lifting the weak mouth corner evenly.
- Open smile: gradually show your upper teeth, then relax.
- Pucker: push your lips forward as if saying “oo”.
- Cheek puff: fill your mouth with air and hold; press the weak side lip with a finger if air escapes.
- Sounds: slowly say “a – ee – oo – m – b” in the mirror.
Suggested daily session
| Step | Duration / reps |
|---|---|
| Warm-up massage | 2 minutes |
| Forehead | 5–10 reps each |
| Eyes | 5–10 reps |
| Nose | 5–10 reps |
| Mouth & cheeks | 5–10 reps each |
| Relax & light massage | 1 minute |
Common mistakes
- Using too much force — may encourage unwanted linked movements (synkinesis) later.
- Relying on the healthy side — worsens asymmetry.
- Irregular long sessions — short daily sessions work better.
- Electrical stimulation without supervision — not recommended routinely; only on a specialist’s advice.
Also read: Bell’s palsy recovery time.
Make it a daily habit with Raq
The hardest part isn’t the exercise — it’s consistency. Raq gives you a ready daily plan matched to your stage, a video for every exercise with Arabic voice guidance, and real-time AI guidance through your camera for every movement.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I do facial palsy exercises?
Specialists often suggest short sessions two to three times a day, with 5–10 gentle repetitions per exercise — but always follow your doctor or physiotherapist.
Is chewing gum good for facial palsy?
Frequent gum chewing is not a targeted exercise and can overwork the healthy side. Precise, symmetrical exercises are better.
When will I see results?
It depends on severity. Many people notice gradual improvement over weeks; consistency and regular progress tracking matter most.
Sources & references
- Physical therapy for Bell's palsy — Cochrane Review (Teixeira et al.)
- Facial Palsy UK — Information and support
- NHS — Bell's palsy
Educational content by the Raq team, based on trusted medical sources.
