Episode 36

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Published on:

2nd Jul 2025

Bell's Palsy in the NBA: Can Embiid Overcome This Facial Foe?

This podcast explains that Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a condition characterized by weakness or paralysis of facial muscles, usually on one side, due to a problem with the seventh cranial nerve. While the exact cause is often unknown, it may be linked to nerve inflammation. Symptoms, which include facial drooping, typically appear over 48 to 72 hours and can last weeks or months. Although there is no cure, treatments like steroids and antiviral medications can help manage the condition and potentially shorten recovery time.

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About the Podcast

Sports Vision Radio
Welcome to the podcast where vision meets performance.

Hosted by Dr. Daniel Laby, one of the world’s leading Sports Vision Specialists with over 30 years of experience working with professional, Olympic, and elite athletes across the globe.

This show is designed for athletes, coaches, parents, and performance-minded professionals who want to understand how the visual system, what you see and how your brain processes it, directly impacts your ability to compete at the highest level.

Each episode dives into the science and strategy behind visual performance: from reaction time and focus control, to decision-making speed, visual processing, and beyond. Whether you’re on the field, in the gym, or in the dugout, you’ll learn practical insights and cutting-edge methods to train your eyes and brain to work together, so you can play sharper, smarter, and faster.

Because seeing clearly is just the beginning. This is about vision that wins!

About your host

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Daniel Laby

Dr. Daniel M. Laby is a pioneer in sports vision science and the author of "Eye of the Champion: Unlocking the Power of Sports Vision for Peak Performance." He has 30+ years experience with elite and Professional athletes and has worked with multiple MLB World Series teams, NBA organizations, Olympic athletes, and numerous professional sports organizations worldwide. He has 8 World Series Championships as well as several other championships. He has been featured in the Wall Sreet Journal (2x), The New York Times, Sports Illustrated as well as NBC news, Fox, and several other radio and television programs. Red Bull made a full length documentary about his work with International Football/Soccer star Trent Alexander-Arnold.