Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson's Disease Symptoms & Signs

• muscle rigidity
  • stiffness
  • difficulty bending arms or legs
• unstable, stooped, or slumped-over posture
• loss of balance
• gait (walking pattern) changes
• shuffling walk
• slow movements
• difficulty initiating any voluntary movement
  • difficulty beginning to walk
  • difficulty getting up from a chair
• small steps followed by the need to run to maintain balance
• freezing of movement when the movement is stopped, inability to resume movement
• muscle aches and pains (myalgia)
• shaking, tremors (varying degrees, may not be present)
  • characteristically occur at rest, may occur at any time
  • may become severe enough to interfere with activities
  • may be worse when tired, excited, or stressed
  • finger-thumb rubbing (pill-rolling tremor) may be present
• changes in facial expression
  • reduced ability to show facial expressions
  • "mask" appearance to face
  • staring
  • may be unable to close mouth
  • reduced rate of blinking
• voice/speech changes
  • slow speech
  • low volume
  • monotone
  • difficulty speaking
• loss of fine motor skills
  • difficulty writing, may be small and illegible
  • difficulty eating
  • difficulty with any activity that requires small movements
  • movement, uncontrolled - slow
• frequent falls
• decline in intellectual function (may occur, can be severe)
• a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, mainly constipation.

• depression
• confusion
• dementia
• seborrhea (oily skin)
• muscle function/feeling loss
• muscle atrophy
• memory loss
• drooling
• anxiety, stress, and tension