Myofunctional therapy is a set of techniques and tools used to work the orofacial musculature. As explained by Mrs. Anna BeviĆ”, a leading specialist in Speech Therapy and expert in myofunctional therapy, myofacial therapy is a very useful tool with a very high range of application, since the objectives it pursues are to establish or reestablish a balance at orofacial level of the different orofacial structures in order to improve the functions of breathing, chewing, swallowing, articulation and mimicry.
What does myofunctional therapy provide and what pathologies does it treat?
It is a very broad therapy that covers multiple pathologies, ranging from oral breathing in young children, swallowing disorders in both children and adults, at the level of articulation in young children, also the whole part of articulation in adults who have not been able to work it, mimicry and even and everything that is the facial muscles. The purpose, as we have already pointed out in previous lines, is to improve the different movements. The orofacial musculature can also be worked on at an aesthetic level with the aim of improving facial aesthetics and reducing wrinkles, among others.
In addition to the pathologies already mentioned, myofunctional therapy also covers masticatory alterations, bruxism, atypical swallowing, voice alterations and voice problems, the latter mainly in adults.
How is it performed?
Myofunctional therapy works through a series of techniques and natural tools in which the patient is involved and has to perform exercises actively, and then there are others that are performed only by the therapist.
In both cases they are natural therapies, non-invasive and mainly work only with the orofacial musculature and tissues. In some cases the aim is to increase or decrease muscle pain and in others to increase or decrease the range of motion of the different muscles in order to improve the muscular functions of each of the muscle groups.
What does the treatment consist of?
The treatment consists of an initial evaluation to identify the difficulties, always taking into account the patientās needs. For example, if it is an aesthetic patient, a myofunctional evaluation is performed to observe their facial muscles, their gestures, how they perform the different gestures both at the level of mimicry, speech or chewing, swallowing, etc., and from there a treatment is planned according to their individual needs.
It is really the same procedure that is followed in the different pathologies according to the needs of each patient. If the patient is a child with atypical swallowing, we evaluate and assess how his or her orofacial musculature behaves and plan a treatment according to his or her needs.
Therefore, the use of myofunctional therapy is becoming more and more frequent given the good results of its application and the diversity of pathologies it covers.