Francisco San Emeterio

The first symptoms appeared in 2002. There was no perception of pain and they consisted of a gradual loss of motor skills observable only on the instrument.

In less than a year, the increase in the condition extended the problems to other activities -computer, cutlery, personal hygiene-. After a period of constant and progressive adaptation of the repertoire to the growing problems, the total impossibility of even a minimal interpretive practice would arrive and the consequent cessation of it.

I visited several specialists without finding answers or solutions. Psychological causes were argued. When I went to the Institute at the end of 2004 I already knew about the disease. I barely had 10% control of movement on the keyboard.

After about fifteen months of about three hours of daily exercises, supervised by regular meetings with the team of the Institute of Physiology and Medicine of Art, I recovered 90% control of the mobility of my hand. The vocation, support and dedication of the physiotherapist Sílvia Fàbregas were vital for the success of the process.

In these years I have been careful with the intensity and the way of studying, taking into account the procedures learned during the treatment. Currently I practice about three hours a day and give solo and chamber recitals once or twice a month, apart from the interventions in the numerous auditions that are part of my work at the conservatory.

Today I no longer notice any symptoms that remind me that I had dystonia. I can say that I have reached 100% healing.

A piece of advice: it is essential to strictly follow the recommendations of the Institute team in terms of method and deadlines. Forget about introducing personal inventions or playing secretly. It is a long and difficult process and there are moments of doubt. I had a lot of faith: their experience and the numerous cases of total healing were the best guarantee.