WEBVTT
00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:06.639
Welcome to Pearls for Parkinson's.
00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.599
Here is this week's Daily Living Tip.
00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:13.519
Welcome back to Pearls for Parkinson's.
00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:18.559
Have you ever noticed that your hands just don't seem to move as quickly as you want them to?
00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:23.359
Maybe buttoning your shirt takes longer or your handwriting gets smaller.
00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:31.039
Typing or texting just isn't as quick, or you reach into your wallet for a credit card and your fingers have had a harder time getting hold of it.
00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:37.039
That can be part of what we call braidokinesia, which simply means slowness of movement.
00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:42.560
It's one of the main movement symptoms of Parkinson's, and it can affect much more than just your walking.
00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.200
Your hands and your fingers can be affected too.
00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:46.719
And here's something interesting.
00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:52.880
If you've ever been examined by a Parkinson's specialist, you've probably been asked to do something that seems pretty simple.
00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:58.159
Tap your thumb and your index finger together as big and as fast as you can.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.640
And there's a reason that we ask you to do that.
00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:07.200
Finger tapping is one of the ways that we assess and grade radiokinesia during the Parkinson's examination.
00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:20.959
We're not only looking for how fast you can tap, we're watching the size of the movement, the speed, the rhythm, whether you hesitate or stop, and whether those taps become progressively smaller as you continue.
00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:27.840
We will also compare one hand with the other because Parkinson's symptoms are often more noticeable on one side.
00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:34.480
But what we see during our short exam can translate into very real things that you're experiencing at home.
00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:43.599
That smaller finger movement can be the button that's suddenly harder to fasten, or slower tapping may show up when you're typing or texting.
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:54.799
That loss of speed and rhythm can make it harder to shuffle cards, handle coins, use utensils, turn a key, or put earrings in, or even manage your medications.
00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:58.079
You may not think, oh, my bradykinesia is worse today.
00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.760
You might simply think, why is it taking me so long to get dressed?
00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.879
Those everyday observations are really important.
00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:06.560
So what can you do?
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:09.280
Start by thinking big hands.
00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:17.280
Open your hands as wide as you comfortably can, spread your fingers apart, make a fist, and then wide open again.
00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:20.240
And then touch each finger firmly to your thumb.
00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:24.240
And then you can even practice those big finger taps that we do in the clinic.
00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:30.319
Before a task that requires fine motor control, take a few seconds to exaggerate those movements.
00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:35.840
You're going to give your brain a stronger uh cue for the size of movement that you want.
00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:40.240
And if your fingers aren't cooperating, then reset rather than fight it.
00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:46.800
Stop, open your hands nice and wide, relax them, and then deliberately start the task again.
00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.199
Simple adaptations can help too.
00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:55.840
You might try a larger pen or one of those styluses, which is kind of one of those pokey things that you use for your phone.
00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:01.360
Maybe use larger handled utensils, zipper pulls, or a button hook.
00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:08.800
An occupational therapist can be a wonderful resource for finding solutions specific to the tasks that are difficult for you.
00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.879
I also want you to pay attention to when your hands are slower.
00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:16.000
Is buttoning your shirt harder first thing in the morning?
00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:20.319
Does handwriting get smaller before your next medication dose?
00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.960
Are utensils easier to manage after your medication has kicked in?
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:30.319
Keeping track of those patterns and sharing them with your Parkinson's provider is essential.
00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:37.120
What you're experiencing at home gives us information that a few minutes of finger tapping in the clinic simply can't.
00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:43.120
So the next time your provider asks you to do those finger taps, now you know what we're looking for.
00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.439
And between appointments, pay attention to what your hands are telling you.
00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:52.080
Open big, move with purpose, and keep those hands moving.
00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.759
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:02.159
If you did, hit that like button, share it with a friend or a support group, and tune in next Monday for more Pearls for Parkinson's.
00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:10.159
The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you.
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:15.840
To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.
00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:06.639
Welcome to Pearls for Parkinson's.
00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.599
Here is this week's Daily Living Tip.
00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:13.519
Welcome back to Pearls for Parkinson's.
00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:18.559
Have you ever noticed that your hands just don't seem to move as quickly as you want them to?
00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:23.359
Maybe buttoning your shirt takes longer or your handwriting gets smaller.
00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:31.039
Typing or texting just isn't as quick, or you reach into your wallet for a credit card and your fingers have had a harder time getting hold of it.
00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:37.039
That can be part of what we call braidokinesia, which simply means slowness of movement.
00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:42.560
It's one of the main movement symptoms of Parkinson's, and it can affect much more than just your walking.
00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.200
Your hands and your fingers can be affected too.
00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:46.719
And here's something interesting.
00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:52.880
If you've ever been examined by a Parkinson's specialist, you've probably been asked to do something that seems pretty simple.
00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:58.159
Tap your thumb and your index finger together as big and as fast as you can.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.640
And there's a reason that we ask you to do that.
00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:07.200
Finger tapping is one of the ways that we assess and grade radiokinesia during the Parkinson's examination.
00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:20.959
We're not only looking for how fast you can tap, we're watching the size of the movement, the speed, the rhythm, whether you hesitate or stop, and whether those taps become progressively smaller as you continue.
00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:27.840
We will also compare one hand with the other because Parkinson's symptoms are often more noticeable on one side.
00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:34.480
But what we see during our short exam can translate into very real things that you're experiencing at home.
00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:43.599
That smaller finger movement can be the button that's suddenly harder to fasten, or slower tapping may show up when you're typing or texting.
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:54.799
That loss of speed and rhythm can make it harder to shuffle cards, handle coins, use utensils, turn a key, or put earrings in, or even manage your medications.
00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:58.079
You may not think, oh, my bradykinesia is worse today.
00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.760
You might simply think, why is it taking me so long to get dressed?
00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.879
Those everyday observations are really important.
00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:06.560
So what can you do?
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:09.280
Start by thinking big hands.
00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:17.280
Open your hands as wide as you comfortably can, spread your fingers apart, make a fist, and then wide open again.
00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:20.240
And then touch each finger firmly to your thumb.
00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:24.240
And then you can even practice those big finger taps that we do in the clinic.
00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:30.319
Before a task that requires fine motor control, take a few seconds to exaggerate those movements.
00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:35.840
You're going to give your brain a stronger uh cue for the size of movement that you want.
00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:40.240
And if your fingers aren't cooperating, then reset rather than fight it.
00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:46.800
Stop, open your hands nice and wide, relax them, and then deliberately start the task again.
00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.199
Simple adaptations can help too.
00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:55.840
You might try a larger pen or one of those styluses, which is kind of one of those pokey things that you use for your phone.
00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:01.360
Maybe use larger handled utensils, zipper pulls, or a button hook.
00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:08.800
An occupational therapist can be a wonderful resource for finding solutions specific to the tasks that are difficult for you.
00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.879
I also want you to pay attention to when your hands are slower.
00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:16.000
Is buttoning your shirt harder first thing in the morning?
00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:20.319
Does handwriting get smaller before your next medication dose?
00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.960
Are utensils easier to manage after your medication has kicked in?
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:30.319
Keeping track of those patterns and sharing them with your Parkinson's provider is essential.
00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:37.120
What you're experiencing at home gives us information that a few minutes of finger tapping in the clinic simply can't.
00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:43.120
So the next time your provider asks you to do those finger taps, now you know what we're looking for.
00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.439
And between appointments, pay attention to what your hands are telling you.
00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:52.080
Open big, move with purpose, and keep those hands moving.
00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.759
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:02.159
If you did, hit that like button, share it with a friend or a support group, and tune in next Monday for more Pearls for Parkinson's.
00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:10.159
The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you.
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:15.840
To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.
