Hand Dexterity

Pearls for Parkinson's: Tips for Daily Living with PD. 

To watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gXUfSom-Jrg

Has buttoning a shirt, writing a note, or opening a package become more frustrating than it used to be?

In this week's Pearls for Parkinson's, we explore how Parkinson's affects hand dexterity and share practical tips to help make everyday tasks easier - from simple hand movements and handwriting strategies to adaptive tools that can help you maintain your independence.

Small adjustments can make a big difference.

Listen now and share with someone living with Parkinson's or caring for a loved one.

To support more programs like this: https://wiparkinson.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-pearls4pd

Wisconsin Parkinson Association 
website: https://wiparkinson.org/
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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Pearls for Parkinson's. Here is this week's Daily Living Tip. Welcome back to Pearls for Parkinson's. Today we're talking about hand dexterity. One of the changes I hear about most often isn't tremor, it's the loss of hand dexterity. People tell me they can still do the task, it just takes longer. Buttons become more frustrating, handwriting gets smaller, opening food packages feels like a wrestling match, and chopping vegetables requires more concentration than it used to. And these changes can be subtle at first, but over time they can begin to affect many of the everyday activities that we often take for granted. Parkinson's can affect the speed, the coordination, and the precision of small muscles in your hands. And many of these tasks are automatic movements. And Parkinson's has a way of making automatic movements require conscious effort. The movements are still there, they just need a little bit more planning and attention. One thing that often helps is simply allowing yourself a little bit more time. When we're rushed, our movements tend to become even smaller and less coordinated. So slowing down and focusing on one step at a time often makes the task easier and less frustrating. It can also be helpful to do fine motor tasks during your on medication times when your movement is at its best. If your hands feel particularly stiff, warming them under warm water for a minute or two before getting started can sometimes make movement feel easier. Also, just a few minutes of hand movements each day can help maintain flexibility and coordination. Try opening your hands as wide as you can and then making a full fist. Elongating the fingers really helps to stretch the tendons that affect those loops when you're trying to write. Also, try uh touching your thumb to each with each fingertip one at a time. And you probably do this at your neurology visits. And then maybe just try to get a little bit faster with that movement and just practice that. Oftentimes my patients would come in saying, I practiced my exam so that I would do better. But that's actually a good thing because you want to practice those movements to keep those fingers active and loose. You can also practice lifting one finger at a time off of a table. Spread your fingers nice and wide and pick up one finger at a time to practice moving those fingers and stretching those tendons as well. One of the best ways to maintain hand function is to simply keep using your hands. So shuffling a deck of cards or working on a puzzle. If you've noticed your handwriting getting smaller, try thinking about writing bigger instead of writing harder. Many of my patients have shared that writing in shorter durations and intentionally making each letter larger has helped improve legibility and also felt more comfortable. A pen with a large barrel or a grip may also help make writing easier as well. There are some adaptive tools that can reduce frustration. Things like button hooks, zipper pulls, jar openers, and kitchen utensils with larger handles can make everyday tasks more manageable while helping you remain independent. And one final thought: keep using your more affected hand whenever it's safe to do so. It's natural to let the stronger hand take over, but continuing to challenge the weaker hand helps maintain coordination, strength, and your confidence over time. And if changes in hand function are beginning to interfere with your daily activities, make sure you ask your health provider about a referral for occupational therapy. They specialize in practical strategies and adaptive techniques that can make everyday tasks easier while also helping you to maintain your independence. Thanks for listening to Pearls for Parkinsons. If you found some helpful tips in this episode, please hit the like button and share it with a friend or a support group. And please tune in next week for more Pearls for Parkinsons. The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you. To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.