We have had information about more unusual types of sensory tricks that have helped individuals that you could try for yourself.
• Touching the chin, back of the head, neck or the cheek gently can help with neck dystonia (torticollis)
• Press fingers against the side of the face can help with eye dystonia (blepharospasm) – need to find the spot that suits you.
• Tapping the foot slowly in a rh.ythmic way (generalised dystonia and when affecting internal organs).
• Squeezing the thumb and finger together rhythmically.
• Squeezing the earlobe (or using a clothes peg) A word of warning from our member who shared this one with us, don’t forget to take it off when you leave the house!
• Some people find singing can make things worse. Others have found singing or playing an instrument helps stop the spasms.
• For jaw dystonia a toothpick, chewing gum, or a boiled sweet can help.
• Concentrating (cognitive thought) very hard on something can help.
• People with writer’s cramp have suggested that cold water can help in the performance of writing.
• Holding the wrist can help prevent tremors in the hand and writer’s cramp.
• Holding the chin, earlobe, and neck have helped a person who has dystonia in the abdomen/trunk area.
The above is information and hints from other people with dystonia who have found them helpful. We acknowledge that some may be documented as sensory tricks but we have no clinical evidence that they will work universally.
It is up to you if you want to try them out. Some people have come across these tricks by trying out different things after being inspired by the knowledge that there are some known and documented sensory tricks.
Please feel free to tell us about anything you have found that works for you
Revised August 2009
