CASE STUDIES / Facial Asymmetry

Subject: Facial Asymmetry
Patient: Male 26 years old
Treatment of: Posture, facial asymmetry, shoulder pain, poor visual teaming

Patient came to therapy due to shoulder pain from repetitive movements. He is an aspiring percussionist. Recently arrived from the East Coast, he developed a pain in the right shoulder with a noticeable “catch” in his movements. He came to therapy over a course of one and a half years, attending every other month. His total visits were 7 treatments spaced over about 16 months.

Postural assessment: Patient’s posture was kyphotic and his shoulders were pronated. The joints had increased laxity. His head was rotated to the right and slightly right side bend at 15 degree. His chest and sternal area was concaved, and his right hip was elevated. Patient’s gaze was predominantly from the left eye. Facial asymmetry was evident with the sphenoid

Load Test: Patient’s greatest area of stress was at the right first ribs attachments of the scalene muscles.

Palpation: Further palpation of the area lead to distal tensions from the diaphragm and liver area. Further complications of the ribcage indicated poor respiration and range of motion of the scapula. All of which correlated with the complaints of the limitations in functions by the patient.

Mobility: Testing of the mobility of the ribcage indicated intra-costal muscular spasms and limitations in range of motion. The mediastinal, pleural perineum and the diaphragm had multiple sites of adhesions.

Motility: Limitations of the lungs and the rib cage noted. Each rib was tested with all the sternal-costal attachments having limitations. The pleura of the lungs and mediastinal were closely adhered to the posterior sternal bone, more on the right side than the left.

Assessment summary: Patient appeared to have adhesions in the soft tissues to the rib cage and sternal bones, limiting the motion of respiration, shoulder movements and head/neck posture. He may have become accustomed to the abnormal posture of his head and compensated with visual dominance.

Treatment: Goal was to relieve the tension for the bio-mechanical tension of the limitations in rib cage, improve posture and correct the poor alignment of his cranial structures.

Patient’s comments:
“ Picture #1, my smile was uneven. I clenched my jaw subconsciously which caused me to mumble in my speech. I felt as [if ] I was looking straight ahead in this picture. “

“Picture #2, My smile and face overall is more even. I no longer clench my jaw, and my face is more relaxed altogether. I now naturally face straight ahead as my body is more centered. Mentally, I am more focused, less distractible, and have an easier time concentrating. After approximately 7 treatments, I have found that I stand more balanced, can breathe easier, and have more energy than ever before.

“My body has evened out from head to toe. My upper body now expands and contracts the way it was intended to, making my breathing deep and effortless.”

Picture taken prior to treatment, November 2004.

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