Do You have Parkinson's Disease?
Why You Have Trouble Judging How Much Force to Use After a Stroke You reach for a paper cup, pick it up, and accidentally squeeze it too hard. Or you try to hold a fork, turn a key, or pick up a fragile object, but your hand doesn’t seem to apply the right amount of […]
Why Getting Dressed Can Take So Much Longer After a Stroke The holidays are supposed to be a time for family, food, and catching up with the people you care about. But if you’ve had a stroke or live with Parkinson’s disease, a holiday gathering can leave you exhausted long before everyone else is ready […]
Why Stroke Survivors May Struggle With Cooking More Than They Expect Cooking is something many people do without thinking much about it. You reach for a pan, open a container, chop vegetables, stir a pot, carry a plate, and move around the kitchen. After a stroke, those same steps can suddenly feel much harder. You […]
Why Your Hand Doesn’t Open as Easily After a Stroke After a stroke, many people notice a frustrating problem with their affected hand: They can grip an object—but they have trouble letting it go. Or they may feel as though their fingers are constantly curled, making it difficult to fully open the hand. This can […]
Why Managing Everyday Medications Can Become Harder After a Stroke or With Parkinson’s Taking medication may seem like a simple part of the daily routine. Read the label. Open the bottle. Take the right amount. Put everything away. But for someone recovering from a stroke or living with Parkinson’s disease, medication management can involve several […]
Why You Keep Missing Things on One Side After a Stroke Have you ever noticed someone recovering from a stroke repeatedly missing things on one side? Maybe they: It can be easy to assume the problem is poor eyesight. Sometimes it is. But in some stroke survivors, the issue is something different: spatial neglect. Spatial […]
Why You Know What You Want to Do After a Stroke but Can’t Figure Out How to Do It Imagine asking someone to brush their teeth. They know exactly what you mean. They understand what a toothbrush is, where it is, and what they’re supposed to do with it. But when they try, something doesn’t […]
Why Fine Motor Skills Matter More Than Grip Strength When people think about hand function, they often think about grip strength. Can you squeeze someone’s hand firmly? Can you hold onto a grocery bag? Can you lift a gallon of milk? While strength is important, it isn’t the whole picture. In fact, many people recovering […]
What Does Occupational Therapy Actually Help With? When most people hear the word occupational therapy (OT), they assume it has something to do with work. In reality, occupational therapy is about helping people perform the everyday activities—or “occupations”—that make up daily life. Whether you’re recovering from a stroke, living with Parkinson’s disease, or managing another […]
Why Stroke and Parkinson’s Recovery Doesn’t Always Feel Like Progress Have you ever stepped backward and suddenly felt unsteady? Maybe it happened while backing away from a counter.Stepping away from the sink.Moving around furniture.Or getting out of a tight space. For many people, walking backward feels far more difficult than walking forward. That’s because backing […]
