Unlocking the Benefits of 7 Facial Exercises for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, which is responsible for regulating body movement, begin to break down. As a result, many people with Parkinson’s disease struggle with motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance.
Facial exercises are one way to help alleviate some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Here are seven facial exercises that can be beneficial:
1. Chew Gum
Chewing gum is a simple but effective facial exercise that can help trigger dopamine production and improve facial movements. In fact, a 2015 study found that patients who chewed gum had better facial expressions and movements than those who did not.
2. Tongue Stretches
Tongue stretches are exercises that involve moving the tongue around the mouth. These exercises help to increase tongue strength, which can lead to better speech and swallowing abilities.
3. Puff Your Cheeks
Puffing your cheeks is an exercise that involves filling your cheeks with air and then releasing it. This exercise helps to improve cheek muscle strength, which can lead to better facial expressions and improved speech abilities.
4. Blow Up a Balloon
Blowing up a balloon is another exercise that can help improve facial muscle strength. This exercise works on the muscles of the lips and cheeks and can help improve speech and swallowing abilities.
5. Smiling
Smiling is an excellent exercise to improve facial expressions and movements. It also helps to increase dopamine production in the brain, which can help alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms.
6. Facial Massage
Facial massages can help improve blood flow to the face, which can lead to better muscle tone and facial movements. Additionally, facial massages can help reduce tension in the face, which can be particularly helpful for people with Parkinson’s.
7. Eyebrow Lifts
Eyebrow lifts involve raising your eyebrows as high as you can and holding them there for a few seconds. This exercise helps to improve forehead and eyebrow muscle strength, which can lead to better facial expressions and movements.
In conclusion, facial exercises can be a helpful tool for people with Parkinson’s disease. They can improve facial expressions, speech, and swallowing abilities, as well as trigger dopamine production in the brain, which can help alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms. By incorporating these seven facial exercises into their daily routine, people with Parkinson’s can unlock these benefits and improve their quality of life.
