MIME THERAPY
A mime is a form of performance art, which uses non-verbal expression to convey a story.
Mime corporeal, a specific type of mime, was founded by Etienne Decroux in 1987.
Underlying principles of Mime Corporeal (Beurskens and colleagues) are:
-"Movement is the rhythm of the body in space and time"
"-The essence of the movement is made visible by exaggerated movements."
Mime therapy is a special non- conventional method of rehabilitation of patients with facial nerve paresis (weakness). It is a form of physiotherapy that combines mime techniques with conventional physiotherapy principles.
It helps individuals with facial nerve paralysis/paresis.
It is aimed at patients with lack of facial movements, uncontrolled movements and involuntary movements after incomplete recovery from facial nerve palsy.
Used for peripheral facial nerve paresis after Bells palsy, herpes zoster oticus, trauma, acoustic neuroma and otitis media
Areas considered in a mime corporeal analysis are:
1. Breathing
Facial expression impairments relate to other areas of tension in the body and breathing can help to reduce this tension
2. Articulation
Learning the expressive possibilities of movement that normally occurs unconsciously helps in interpreting the expressions correctly.
Alertness and awareness of movement direction can be used to help to convey different feelings
3. Expression
Mime can be used to enhance non-verbal communication.
Mime corporeal analysis:
The following areas are considered in a mime corporeal analysis:
· Breathing
Facial expression impairments relate to other areas of tension in the body
Breathing can help to reduce this tension
· Articulation
Understanding the expressive possibilities of movement that normally occurs unconsciously" can help in correctly interpreting the expressions
· Alertness and awareness of movement direction
Can be used to help to convey different feelings
· Expression
· Mime can be used to enhance non-verbal communication.
Physiotherapy and Mime Therapy
Mime therapy is used to treat facial patients.
A more comprehensive treatment, includes:
- Facial muscle stretching
- Counteracting movements and coordination exercises to help to reduce synkinesis
Mime therapy is now used to promote symmetry of the face at rest and while moving, and to control synkinesis.
Components of mime therapy:
1. Anamnesis (i.e. medical history)
2. Face and neck self-massage
3. Breathing and relaxation exercises
4. Exercises to enhance coordination between both sides of the face and to reduce synkinesis
5. Exercises to assist with eye and lip closure
6. Letter and word exercises
7. Facial expression exercises
Treatment Session
On average, patients have ten 45 minutes therapy sessions regularly
Then sessions are designed for once a week or less based on the severity of symptoms
Follow-up treatment is usually at 3 to 6 months
Patients are given a home regimen program and homework book/diary
Mime therapy should be used when degeneration (i.e. synkinesis) is obvious - this may be around 3 months after facial paralysis begins
Mirrors can be used as a bio-feedback tool
Evidence
Mime therapy has been found to improve facial symmetry in people who have had long-term facial nerve paresis
After mime therapy, both facial asymmetries at rest and synkinesis were reduced and facial symmetry during voluntary movement improved efficiently
Mime Therapy is designed to focus on the treatment of patients with synkinesis. Only patients with some movement of the facial muscles had advantage over patients without any movement from mime therapy, as it focuses on alteration of movement and strengthening of the muscles.
Mime therapy is beneficial as it improves circulation and maintains muscle properties
Mime Therapy combined with electrical stimulation results in immediate improvement of function and integrity of facial muscles. It also mitigates the synkinesis in Bell's Palsy
Mime Therapy along with Electromyography Biofeedback (EMG BFB), both are beneficial to enhance the facial muscle integrity and movement.
Limitation
Mime Therapy is not helpful in managing patients with chronic flaccid facial paralysis as there is no existing movement to strengthen or alter. As it focuses on treatment of synkinesis
At Valley Healing hands, Brownsville, Texas we provide the best Mime therapy approach for fascial palsy. We are equipped with highly qualified Physical Therapists who will assist you and train you. Our patients are very satisfied with our services and you may learn about what they have to say about us here. You may also get connected to us here. Our patients love us and you too will!!!