Motor Symptoms
Motor symptoms are the hallmark of Parkinson's and are often the most visible signs of the disease, playing a key role in its diagnosis. These symptoms can make everyday tasks such as walking, dressing, or writing more difficult.
What Are the Main Motor Symptoms?
There are four main motor symptoms, and while these are typical, it's important to remember that they can vary significantly from person to person, both in severity and in how they progress over time.
It's important to understand that not all of these symptoms need to be present to diagnose PD. If you have concerns, it's best to consult a neurologist or a movement disorder specialist.
Additional Motor Symptoms
Dysarthria (slurred speech): A motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to pronounce words clearly due to weakness or poor control of the muscles involved in speech.
Hypophonia (soft voice): Unusually soft speech, often caused by poor coordination of the muscles used for voice production.
Micrographia (small handwriting): Consistently small font size or a gradual reduction in font size as writing continues.
Hypomimia (facial masking): Reduction of facial expressions, creating a mask-like appearance. This can make it difficult for others to interpret the person's emotions or intentions, potentially causing communication difficulties.
Dystonia: A disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that result in repetitive movements, twisting, or abnormal body postures.
Dyskinesia: Involuntary and often repetitive movements that a person cannot control, such as jerking, twisting, or fidgeting, often affecting the face, arms, legs, or trunk.
Freezing (gait freezing): Inability to move the feet forward while walking, even when intended (feeling frozen or stuck in place), which can increase the risk of falls.