Manual Technique To Initiate Paralysed Facial Muscles Developed

Oct. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Lorraine Clapham, a physiotherapist based at Southampton General Hospital has discovered movement in the faces of patients with 'dead' nerves - by stretching the inside of their mouths with her finger. By stretching the inside of the cheeks of several patients with complete facial nerve palsy with a finger while performing routine checks for ulcerations or trauma, Ms Clapham caused the paralysed facial muscles to move.
The breakthrough, reported in The Journal of Laryngology & Otology and named Clapham's sign, is currently under further investigation. Neverthless this form of muscle initiation should help in maintaining muscle metabolism, preventing atrophy, to initiate movement in facial muscles in patients struck by a syndrome or help patients who have undergone surgery make a quicker recovery. It also adds more credibility to already vastly performed manual therapy techniques.
Ms Clapham, who established pioneering clinic The Face Place at Southampton General Hospital in 2000 for patients who suffer from facial paralysis, said: "The presence of this sign may be an important indicator regarding the recovery of the facial nerve and movements of the face." She added that "It may also help surgeons decide if and when surgery should be offered to try and restore facial movements." The patients' responses took a minimum of six to seven weeks to appear following injury or surgery and continued for up to seven months following the nerve damage.
Ms Clapham, who has worked in the NHS for more than 30 years and was named the Department of Health's outstanding achiever of the year in 2003 and physiotherapist of the year in 2007, was made a fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in November.
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