Puckering and blowing facial expressions in people with facial movement disorders.
OBJECTIVE
People with facial movement disorders are instructed to perform various facial movements as part of their physical therapy rehabilitation. A difference in the movement of the orbicularis oris muscle has been demonstrated among people without facial nerve impairments when instructed to "pucker your lips" and to "blow, as if blowing out a candle." The objective of this study was to determine whether the within-subject difference between "pucker your lips" and "blow, as if blowing out a candle" found in people without facial nerve impairments is present in people with facial movement disorders.


METHODS
People (N=68) with unilateral facial movement disorders were observed as they produced puckering and blowing movements. Automated facial image analysis of both puckering and blowing was used to determine the difference between facial actions for the following movement variables: maximum speed, amplitude, duration, and corresponding asymmetry.


RESULTS
There was a difference between the amplitudes of movement for puckering and blowing. "Blow, as if blowing out a candle" produced a larger amplitude of movement.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings demonstrate that puckering and blowing movements in people with facial movement disorders differ in a manner that is consistent with differences found in people who are healthy. This information may be useful in the assessment of and intervention for facial movement disorders affecting the lower face.
Denlinger
Rachel L
RL
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
VanSwearingen
Jessie M
JM
Cohn
Jeffrey F
JF
Schmidt
Karen L
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005149:Facial Expression; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D014741:Video Recording