Adapt your hobbies
You told us about the adaptations which help you continue enjoying your hobbies despite Parkinson's. And we suggest a few useful tools too.
Art, craft and music
Keep small items in trays or baskets so they’re less likely to be knocked onto the floor. Or use non-slip mats to keep things in place while you’re working on them.
“Now I create digital art. I’ve had to give up the majority of my painting but it hasn’t stopped me being creative. Adapting to the digital realm of art has been a lifesaver. There are no rules in art. You can’t make bad art. Everyone’s an amateur.” Alex
“I get bad cramps in my right hand. The first time it happened I couldn’t hold my guitar plectrum properly as my hand had curled up. But I chatted to the crowd until it passed, and I’ve since found plectrums that you can attach to your finger.” Laz
Sport
“I have been an avid weight trainer for over 30 years. I can highly recommend the use of figure-of-8 lifting straps. They’re simple to put on and off, and allow me to keep exercising pretty much as before, despite my tremor.” Richard
“I can no longer play golf, as I can’t maintain the same swing with my tremor. Instead, I’ve taken up ten-pin bowling. The weight of the ball means my hand doesn’t shake.” Karl
“In walking tennis, the ball doesn’t move as fast, or need to be hit as hard. I’ve just taken up pickleball as well, which is a combination of badminton, table tennis and normal tennis, and is great fun!” Sharon
My e-bike was not cheap, but it has turned the whole cycling experience around for me. Before, any hard effort on the bike would make the tremor in my arm much worse. But now, I can pass people on hills without much effort, and no routes are off-limits.
“I bought a table tennis trainer, which is a ping pong ball on a swing-ball that you can use at home. It meant I could still practise and keep my skills up, like maintaining a good swing with my arm. It helped keep my motor skills going.” Paul
Writing
Use pens and pencils with a thick or padded cover to help you get a better grip.
If you have a tremor, a weighted cuff may give you more control. This is a heavy padded strap that you wear around your wrist.
Use a clipboard or a non-slip mat to stop your paper slipping.
Write on lined paper, so it’s easier to keep your writing straight.
Take your time to write, or dictate into a smartphone or voice recorder.
Cooking
If chopping food is difficult, a mini food processor can help you chop things like garlic, ginger and spring onions finely. Then you can freeze the ingredients until you need them.
Or use a salad bowl cutter, which has slots to guide your knife into the right position.
If you have difficulty gripping things, a curved-handled or rocking-action knife can be used for chopping food.
A kettle tipper lets you pour boiling water out of the kettle without lifting it up. This reduces the risk of spills and burns.
You can place a non-slip mat under a plate or bowl to stop it from moving around. This can be useful if you have limited mobility in one arm and find yourself chasing plates and bowls across the table.