I do quite a few small exercises, none of which are from my former therapists and thus have no scientific backing for doing them. So stop reading NOW.
Riding the bus to and from work, if I'm in one of the front seats that face each other I will set my cane in front of me and unwrap and wrap my fingers around the handle, straighten out my arm and just let it sway with the bus movement. At first I couldn't do this because my bicep was spastic and wouldn't let my arm stay straight. As you get better at this you control the arm so the cane doesn't bounce off your legs. You have to be willing to look silly, ignore the stares. This is trying to get my proprioception working better
I was on plane rides the last week. I spent almost all of that time flexxing my fingers open and closed. Sometimes switching to single fingers.
Watching TV I cross my legs with the good leg on top of the 'bad' leg, then I sway the bad leg back and forth. I'm not sure what use this is but any additional muscle activation on my 'bad leg will eventually be helpful.
You yourself know better than anyone what small movements you can work on during the day. These small pieces can prove to your brain that neuroplasticity is working. and once you start believing that, anything is possible.
Are you sure these aren't nervous habits?
ReplyDeleteI try to do similar things. The obstacle for me is remembering that there can be therapy in every situation.
ReplyDeleteGlynis, Since I am actively thinking about them while doing them they aren't OCD habits.
ReplyDelete