Handwringing in Rett Syndrome

Monday 10th August 2020

There are several factors contributing to handwriting. The first is the brain is starved of feedback and repetitive handwriting does provide feedback, so it becomes a permanent cycle when hand-use is severely impacted . It also has a soothing element and those with Rett Syndrome whose handwringing increases when stressed, are increasing the handwringing as a way of coping, an outlet.

An important aspect, my right hand has good function but it feels very little. My left has excellent feeling but is much less functional and it’s likely that a good many with Rett Syndrome have this to varying degrees. It makes the joining of the hands very comforting because together, they complete a circuit in a sense.

If the hands and arms don’t move, handwringing is all there is. If you work with the child’s reflexes from very young, you can gain some movement that cannot be lost to Rett Syndrome. It may only be useful at times of reflex movements, but there is the chance that it can be built upon and be useful every day and allow the person with Rett Syndrome purposeful hand use.

For instance, a reflex movement would be the family dog coming up and slurping the child’s face and the arm/hand coming up in reflex. This movement goes into memory and the more reflex activities, (which can include boisterous siblings teasing that might provoke a swat) is all movement getting into permanent memory and beneficial.

While here, there is a little trick to getting warm feet. Like others, circulation doesn’t warm my feet and I learnt quite by accident that running out on wet grass in bare feet in the morning would minutes later have my feet glowing and warm. And though it’s a small thing, it feels really nice. And it’s also good for the feet.