Neurological illness and bilateral activities

When faced with neurological illness, it is important to understand that there are some activities that can delay symptoms and help maintain functioning longer.  Any activity that utilizes bilateral body movement can help delay deterioration.  Playing cards, turning pages of a book, crocheting and handwork, and peeling vegetables are just a few simple activities that involve bilateral movement.  Often as we age, we begin to acquire gadgets and gizmos that seem to make life much easier.  However, in reality, performing some of these small tasks actually helps our brain function and works out the brain, so to speak, so that the two hemispheres of the brain communicate better.  Hand tools in the kitchen (such as vegetable peelers), reading the actual paper or a real book, or even the old fashion rolling of a skein of yarn, are crucial to maintaining brain function.

It is also important to incorporate gross motor bilateral movement.  Stretching the arms across the body, kicking the feet across (even if sitting down), bouncing a balloon in the air, and manipulating objects so that your loved one has to reach across the body to pick them up are all great tactics for involving gross motor bilateral movement.  Marching in place and climbing stairs are also great activities for this important brain maintenance.  These are great exercises for your loved one with neurological illness, but also for you to do with them for your own health.