Facial Palsy: The Therapist's Guide

"The Therapist's Guide to Treating Patients with Facial Palsy" online course, designed by physical therapist Jodi Barth, PT, CCI, will provide the foundation for answering your patients' plea, “Fix My Face.” Facial palsy patients are in search of medical guidance. Unfortunately, for the men, women, and children diagnosed with facial paralysis each year, there are not enough medical professionals experienced in best practices.

Facial palsy is caused by conditions such as Bell’s Palsy, Zoster Sine Herpete, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Acoustic Neuroma, Lyme disease, and at least an additional 100 other diagnoses.

This course is designed to provide physical, occupational, and speech therapists, chiropractors, dentists, physicians, acupuncturists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians with the knowledge of current treatment regimens, interventions, and new innovative techniques for facial palsy patients so this underserved population can flourish under the care of a well-informed clinician.

This continuing education has been approved by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 36 Continuing Education Hours.

At the completion of this online course, students will have a good understanding of 

1. the uniqueness of the facial nerve and muscles

2. the importance of differential diagnoses and associated interventions

3. the benefits and positive outcomes from a multidisciplinary approach

4. the importance of early intervention, including medication regimens, based on current research

5. new innovative techniques such as diagnostic ultrasound, synkineedling, mirror book therapy, telehealth, and the utilization of therapeutic modalities

6. the psychological impact of facial palsy

7. the important aspects of an evaluation and the skills to conduct a comprehensive evauation

8. proper eye care management and utilization of a multi-disciplinary approach

9. diagnostic ultrasound and the role it can play in the care of the patient

10. how they can use manual skills to improve the quality of life for their patients

11. how to design a home program based on clinical findings

Pre-Quiz

Module 1: Facial Anatomy (four parts)

• Mandatory reading: three articles on facial anatomy
• Post Quiz
• Facial Anatomy Worksheets:

1. Identifying muscles
2. Identifying branches of facial nerve
3. Identifying branches of the cranial nerves

Module 2: Differential Diagnosis (five parts)

• Mandatory reading: nine current articles including latest research about Covid and facial palsy.
• Post Quiz

Module 3: Patient Assessment (five parts)

• Mandatory reading: 14 articles including reliability and validation of standard testing measurements
• Post Quiz

Module 4: Interdisciplinary Treatment: (three parts)

• Mandatory reading: 12 articles including latest surgical interventions, medication justification, ultrasound evaluation and usage of botox
• Post Quiz

Module 5: The Management of the Facial Palsy Patient (six parts)

• Mandatory reading: 16 articles, including the standard guidelines for physical therapy care of a facial palsy patient established by the Facial Specialists International
• Patient Home Exercise Program Handouts

Post Quiz

There are no prerequisites for this 36-hour online course.

Students will receive 64 scientific articles as part of the course materials.

This course is designed for 

• physical therapists
• occupational therapists
• speech therapists
• physicians
• dentists
• chiropractors
• acupuncturists
• nurse practitioners
• physician assistants