As some of you may know, today April 11 is International Parkinson’s Day, in commemoration of the anniversary of James Parkinson, the British physician who described “paralysis agitans” at 1817. This year is going to be a different anniversary, given the situation in which we find ourselves and I wanted to take advantage of this day to provide some tools that I hope will make this period more bearable.

In a previous post I talked about the disease COVID-19 and its implications in patients with Movement Disorders(https://neurologiaclinica.es/coronavirus-covid-19-y-enfermedad-de-parkinson-y-otros-trastornos-del-movimiento/ ), trying to send a reassuring message in these times of uncertainty.

At this point in the quarantine , we all have more or less clear the things we should NOT do for our health and that of others, but there are also several things in our hand to make these days at home more bearable (and even enjoy them).

-Try to have a daily routine:

It is important to maintain a regular rhythm of eating and sleeping habits, sleep the necessary hours (without overdoing it or falling short), showering, dressing… these seem unimportant things but they bring peace and help to bring back a sense of control in our lives.

– Maintain contact with family and friends.

The need for physical isolation should not make us fall into social isolation and fortunately there are a thousand ways to connect with the people we love.

– Keep busy!

Maybe it’s time to take up that forgotten hobby, learn something new, or just enjoy that cup of coffee we guzzle every morning without stopping.

– Be physically active on a daily basis:

Especially necessary in our patients with Parkinson’s Disease. There are many things that can be done at home, even without having the fortune of a garden or a terrace. In Parkinson’s disease it is important to maintain physical activity through stretching exercises, walking and balance, fine motor skills, articulation of language … Here are some links to videos that have prepared our team of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Adapt them to your clinical situation and go for it!

• Back flexibility exercises
• Exercises for reduced mobility
• Breathing exercises
• Bimanual tasks 1
• Bimanual tasks 2

– And finally, be tolerant of yourself:

Think that you are doing the best you can under the circumstances and don’t berate yourself if you have a bad day. Having some anxiety or fear at this time is perfectly normal, and can even help us put things in perspective. But if it becomes a problem, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions – we’re here for you!