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The Effects of Parkinson's Disease

The Effects of Parkinson's Disease

Manchester Neuro Physio classify the effects of Parkinson's disease as motor and non-motor.

Common motor symptoms seen in Parkinson's disease are:

  • Tremor - usually begins in one hand (the first symptom for 70% of people with Parkinson's disease).
  • Slowness of movement - people with Parkinson's disease often find that they have difficulty initiating movements or that performing movements takes longer.
  • Stiffness or rigidity of muscles - people with Parkinson's disease often find that they have problems with activities such as standing up from a chair or rolling over in bed.
  • Postural instability - leads to impaired balance and falls.
  • Gait and posture disturbances:
    • Shuffling gait.
    • Decreased arm swing
    • Stooped, forward-flexed posture
    • Gait freezing - occurs in tight, cluttered spaces, doorways or when initiating gait
  • Other motor symptoms:
    • Fatigue
    • Mask-like, expressionless face with infrequent blinking
    • Micrographia (small, cramped handwriting)

Various non-motor symptoms may also be experienced, for example:

  • Sleep disturbance
  • Constipation
  • Urinary urgency
  • Depression
Parkinson's Disease

To book an assessment or for more information please email office@manchesterneurophysio.co.uk call 0161 883 0066 .