tips for dealing with micrographia
From: American Parkinson Disease Association
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 9:15 AM
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Subject: October tip of the month from American Parkinson Disease Association
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Micrographia (abnormally small, cramped handwriting) is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. A study by William G. Ondo, MD, and Pankaj Satija, MD, at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, suggests that closing one’s eyes while writing reduces the phenomenon.
Here are some tips for increasing the size of one’s handwriting from Tami DeAngelis, PT, GCS, coordinator at APDA’s National Rehabilitation Resource Center at Boston University’s Sargent College:
I - Change something about yourself
a.. Engage in activities that involve challenging finger movements such as playing a musical instrument, working on a computer, playing cards, doing crafts, kneading bread or decorating cookies.
b.. Practice writing every day instead of avoiding writing. Practice is necessary for improvement.
c.. Do the following exercises:
a.. Lay a piece of paper flat on a table. Crumple it up into a wad with one hand. Using only the same hand, place the wad on the table and smooth out the wrinkles until the paper is flat again. (If this is too difficult, start with a tissue or paper towel.)
b.. Turn your palm up so it is facing the ceiling. Take a pencil and rotate it around with your fingertips so that it turns 360 degrees. Go in both directions. When this becomes easy, do the same with a tennis or golf ball or any other object that you can grasp and rotate.
c.. Squeeze a stress ball. You can also pinch the ball with your index finger and thumb, then your middle finger and thumb, and then your ring finger and thumb.
II - Change something about the environment
a.. When you write, sit in a comfortable chair with your back supported and your feet flat on the ground.
b.. Clear away clutter from the surface you are writing on and try to relax and be calm.
c.. Used lined paper to write on. The lines serve as a cue to help you write bigger.
d.. Use a cardboard template as a guide to tell you how large your letter should be.
e.. Use a large grip pen or put a foam grip on your writing utensil to make it easier to manipulate.
III - Change the strategy you use (or the way you write)
a.. Think about writing BIG. Cue yourself to write with large letters. Focusing your attention on writing big often helps you to write bigger.
b.. Stop writing once you notice your words are beginning to get small. Lift your pen off the paper and then resume writing. It might take longer to write, but you may find that those breaks help you to avoid writing small letters.
c.. Try using different pens and see what works best for you. Many people with PD report that a felt tip pen is easier to use.
d.. Consider using a computer and typing instead of writing to communicate with others.
e.. Frequent practice ensures success!
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The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. was founded in 1961 to "Ease the Burden - Find the Cure" for Parkinson's disease. Headquartered in New York, the organization focuses its energies on research, patient support, education and raising public awareness of Parkinson's disease.
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