Understanding Parkinson's Disease

Motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

At least two of the motor symptoms detailed below, including tremor at rest or bradykinesia, need to be identified in order for a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease to be made:1

  • Tremor (shaking of arms, legs or head)
  • Bradykinesia / akinesia (a slowness or absence of movement respectively) often resulting in shuffling gait
  • Rigidity (stiffness) leading to loss of facial expression
  • Flexed posture of neck, trunk and limbs
  • Freezing phenomenon
  • Loss of postural reflexes

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View references

  1. Fahn S. Description of Parkinson's disease as a clinical syndrome. Ann NY Acad Sci 2003; 991: 1-14.

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