Top 7 Symptoms of Parkinson’s

Tremors, rigidity, slow movement, and balance problems are the four main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. If two or more of these symptoms exist, the diagnosis will likely be Parkinson’s. Not all symptoms must exist, especially in early stages. Here are the top 7 symptoms of Parkinson’s.

7. Tremors

Parkinson’s tremors are slow, rhythmic, starts at rest, and usually starts in a single limb (hand, foot, or leg). Over time, the condition develops and includes the entire limbs. The tremors can also begin in the mouth, tongue, chin, or jaw. In rare conditions, some Parkinson’s patients said that they felt tremors internally. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

6. Rigidity

Rigidity means stiffness or tightness of the upper limbs, lower limbs, torso, or all of them. In the early stages of the disease, it may be mistaken with other health problems such as arthritis or orthopedic conditions. (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

5. Bradykinesia

Bradykinesia stands for slow movement. It is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. It is usually associated with facial masking, low blinking rate, and difficulties with fine motor skills such as handwriting. (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)

4. Postural Instability

Postural instability occurs in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease. The patient loses the ability to maintain an upright posture. The risk of falls increases significantly. It is usually associated with falling backwards and even the lightest push can force the patient to fall. (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)

3. Walking Difficulties

Bradykinesia and postural instability make walking difficult. The condition starts by a decrease in the ability to swing both your arms while walking. While the disease progresses, walking becomes slower and the steps become smaller. Freezing episodes occur in the late stages. (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)

2. Dystonia

Dystonia stands for repetitive, involuntary muscle movements. When it affects a certain body part, it leads to a twist or taking a certain posture. Eyes, neck, limbs, and trunk are the most common areas affected by dystonia. (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)

1. Vocal Problems

Changes in voice are common among Parkinson’s patients. Research say bradykinesia is the main cause of vocal symptoms. The voice becomes strong at first then starts to become weaker. The emotions and variations in the tone of voice change too. (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)