After watching my grandfather struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, I’ve seen that adaptive devices like stabilizing spoons or Parkinson’s spoons can make all the difference in someone’s quality of life. I’ve done the reading and comparing so I can break down the best stabilizing spoons for tremors for you.
See the end of the article for more information on adapting to tremors. If stability is an issue, check out my post on shower seats.
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Probably the best stabilizing spoon option on the market is the Gyenno Steady Spoon. It’s an electronic smart utensil that uses stabilizing technology to sense the movement of your tremor and then move in the opposite direction which ultimately keeps the spoon more stable.
You really have to see it to believe it so check out the video below to watch it in action.
The smart device can distinguish between purposeful movement and tremor and over time learns the patterns of your tremor to better counter the shaking so it’s the sort of thing where if it doesn’t seem perfect at first, give it a few more tries as the device learns more.
I love that there are no settings to mess with. When you pick it up it automatically begins to stabilize your movements and when you set it down it goes into sleep mode to conserve battery. A full charge on this wireless spoon can last around three hours so while you’ll likely have to charge it regularly, you can still get several meals out of a single charge.
The spoon comes with a charging dock and cord. They also include the fork attachment for the Steady Spoon to expand the foods you can eat with it.
The major downsides are that the large handle is great for some folks but it can be bulky for others. Also, it doesn’t look like a normal utensil so if self-consciousness is an issue, it will help with the tremor but still not pass for a regular spoon out in public.
Find more Gyenno Steady Spoon information and reviews here.
One trick to counter-acting a tremor is to add weight. The shaking is significantly less when holding heavy items than when you’re holding something lightweight. These weighted silverware are designed to use their heft to lessen tremors.
The Vive set comes with a fork, teaspoon, extra-deep soup spoon, and a knife that is half smooth and half serrated as a sawing motion tends to work well for folks with tremor. They are dishwasher safe and made of long-lasting stainless steel.
Maybe the absolutely best part about them is that they look like normal silverware. Adaptive tech is fantastic but so often it can really call attention to itself when you’d rather it blended in. These utensils from Vive won’t make you stand out the way other more obvious spoon stabilizers do.
That makes them great for use in restaurants–places a lot of people who have difficulties eating often avoid because you can feel singled out and more observed.
They aren’t perfect for everyone as weighing down a spoon handle can only do so much for advanced tremors, but they’re still worth a try for those with less extreme tremors or even just as your dining out silverware set.
Sometimes it’s impossible to put a price on feeling normal when you’re dealing with a change in your abilities.
Find more Vive Weighted Silverware information and reviews here.
This affordable option uses weighted handles to reduce the level of tremor which can be effective for mild to moderate tremor. The neatest thing about these is the little lip at the top of the handle that makes them sit at an angle when you put them down.
Their little permanent kickstands make them so much easier to pick up than silverware that lays flat because you can quickly get your fingers under them. These are a good choice if you have trouble gripping and holding onto your utensils but don’t have a severe tremor.
They’re weighted but at about half the weight of the Vive set for a good middle ground. I like that they are dishwasher safe and that the knife is serrated for easier use.
Find more Celley's Adaptive Eating Utensils information and reviews here.
Having a disability is expensive. I get it. I live it. So if you need to see if the cheaper option is good enough to get by, consider these non-mechanical easy-grip utensils.
If the tremor is light enough or gripping traditional silverware is difficult, this might take the edge off, but these are not a good fit for moderate to extreme tremor.
The wide, textured grip is made of food-grade silicone and is non-weighted for folks who are dealing with limb weakness making it easier to hold. I love that these are dishwasher safe because our lives are busy enough as it is.
This is a good option for people who are constrained by budget and who don’t have a very extreme tremor.
Find more Non-Weighted Adaptive Utensils information and reviews here.
The Liftware Steady is another smart device that takes the same technology cameras use for image stabilization and applies it to a spoon. The mini computer in the handle of the spoon recognizes your tremor and moves opposite to attempt to cancel out the shake. The company launched back in 2013 so they’ve been at this a while and have a few different designs including the Liftware Level.
It will learn your tremor patterns over time so, in theory, it will work better the more you use it. There are no settings to worry about with this one either as it turns on automatically when it senses movement and then turns off when not in use.
I like that the charging dock for the handle is very small and that the spoon attachment is dishwasher safe. You can also buy a fork attachment and spork attachment separately which is nice.
As with anything, how much the Liftware is effective depends on your level of tremor and I like that they include a chart that quantifies your level of tremor and predicts how helpful the Lifeware will be for you. Click through to their seventh image here for the sheet.
Find more Liftware Steady Starter Kit information and reviews here.
Absolutely. There are many different types of tremors but I'm going to focus here on Parkinson's tremor and Essential Tremor.
Parkinson's Tremor occurs is the majority of folks with Parkinson's and is unique in that it is considered a "resting tremor." This means the tremor is triggered when that part of the body is at rest.
This is why someone's hand my shake when resting in their lap but the tremor is reduced when they move their hand to pick something up. As a result, movements like lifting a spoon to your mouth that are slower or involve pausing can be affected.
For resting tremors, movement countering devices tend to have the best success.
Essential Tremor is a condition where the tremor general occurs during action and is better at rest. This still puts action like mealtime at a disadvantage since they hover right in the middle between movement and holding something still.
With Essential Tremor movement canceling devices are often quite effective but weighted utensils can also help reduce tremor.
Keep in mind that a lower portion of people with Parkinson's can also have an action tremor along with the more typical resting tremor.
Do what you can to de-stress. I know you're probably feeling more stress than ever right now with the frustration and possibly embarrassment, but getting more riled up only makes the tremor worse.
Do your best to be gentle with yourself where you are and take some deep breaths when you're feeling overwhelmed before you try again.
Forget what Miss Manners taught you and eat with your elbows on the table. That extra support and stability can go a long way to reducing tremors.
In addition to stabilizing spoons, take advantage of other adaptive tools like Scoop Plates designed for folks with coordination issues and No-Slip Placemats for keeping plates in place.
For more information check out the Parkinson's Foundation Mealtime page and the Tremor Fact sheet from the NIH.
While it wasn't a tremor, I've had bouts with my autoimmune disease that left me unable to bend my fingers at all for months, making feeding myself extremely difficult. While it shouldn't be, it's embarrassing to need help with these simple, everyday things.
As a cane user and wheelchair user in the past, adaptive technology is important to me and I know full well how much it can help.
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