Kabat Rehabilitation Exercise Core Summary
Nerve rewiring training to correct facial paralysis aftereffects and asymmetry
01 Principle of Kabat Exercise: Nerve Circuit Rewiring
- Definition: A rehabilitation method devised by American physician Herman Kabat, it is training that stimulates proprioceptors (sensors) to correct the signaling system between the brain and muscles.
- Core Mechanism: Rather than just moving muscles, it applies subtle resistance to make the brain strongly recognize, "This is how I should use this muscle."
02 3 Essential Principles Before Exercise
- Keep it gentle: Excessive force worsens synkinesis (eyes and mouth moving together).
- Look in the mirror: Real-time visual information of normal movements must be input to the brain.
- Diagonal direction: Facial muscle fibers are diagonal. Moving along these fibers ensures efficient nerve communication.
03 Practical Exercise Methods (Eyes & Mouth)
๐๏ธ Eye Exercise
1. Fix the mouth in an 'O' shape (to prevent mouth corner movement).
2. Press the eyebrow with your hand to block forehead involvement.
3. Apply subtle force while raising the lower eyelid upward.
๐ Mouth Exercise
1. Hook a finger inside the drooping corner of the mouth and pull diagonally downward to apply resistance.
2. Overcome that force and raise the corner of the mouth toward the cheekbone for 5 seconds.
3. Relax the muscles on the normal side of the mouth.
04 Preparation and Finishing Acupressure Points
- Before exercise (Opening paths): Relax the suboccipital muscles at the back of the neck and apply acupressure to the Yefeng/Xiaguan/Jiache points.
- After exercise (Relieving tension): Apply acupressure to the Yintang/Taiyang points to stabilize the autonomic nervous system.
