Self Help Guides : Self Help Guides : Resources : Spastic Paraplegia Foundation

Self Help Guides

Note: Special thanks go to the many caring contributors, to Cheryl Schumer, the founder of the first HSP website, and to Thurza Campbell, who created and edited Synapse Newsletter. These great authors have provided us permission to re-print some of their articles. Some articles edited to fit space.

John K. Fink, M.D., SPF Medical Advisor

HSP Progression

Spoon Theory

The ‘spoon theory’ is a visual metaphor to explain the amount of energy a person has throughout the day. We start the day with the same number of teaspoons. Every activity uses up a given number of spoons. For a healthy person, showering may use 1 spoon, but for a person with HSP or PLS, it may take 3 or 4 spoons. A person who runs out of spoons must rest until their spoons are replenished.