Rigidity and Parkinson’s
What it is and how to treat it
Does your low back feel tight after gardening? Is your shoulder sore because of the boxing class you took yesterday? Is the stiffness you feel due to arthritis? Or is all of this discomfort just a part of getting old?
Maybe, but it’s also possible that these symptoms are due to rigidity.
What is rigidity?
Rigidity is one of the most common motor symptoms in Parkinson’s, and 90% of people with Parkinson’s experience rigidity at some point during their Parkinson’s progression.
Rigidity is when your muscles feel stiff and tighten involuntarily. It can occur in your arms, legs, neck, back, and even smaller facial muscles. Some people experience it more on one side of their body, but others experience it in both. This stiffness can decrease your range of motion and cause pain and achiness in your joints and muscles.
For some people, the initial motor symptom of Parkinson’s is tightness in one limb. Stiffness in the shoulder when putting on a coat could be due to a golf game yesterday or impingement of the shoulder joint, which is an orthopedic problem. However, it could also be a pre-motor symptom of Parkinson’s, which can start years before your diagnosis of Parkinson’s.
Though tremor is the most well-known, visible, and recognized motor symptom of Parkinson’s, rigidity is another primary motor symptoms used to diagnose Parkinson’s. The other two are slowness of movement (bradykinesia) and postural instability. Since bradykinesia impacts rigidity, it’s important to consider both when diagnosing and treating. And because rigidity can be painful and uncomfortable, be sure to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Treatment and medication that offer relief for rigidity are available.
"Motion is lotion.” – Marty Acevedo, Davis Phinney Ambassador
What impact can rigidity have on my life?
This content was originally published by the Davis Phinney Foundation. Continue reading the original English version here.
Does your low back feel tight after gardening? Is your shoulder sore because of the boxing class you took yesterday? Is the stiffness you feel due to arthritis? Or is all of this discomfort just a part of getting old?
Maybe, but it’s also possible that these symptoms are due to rigidity.
What is rigidity?
Rigidity is one of the most common motor symptoms in Parkinson’s, and 90% of people with Parkinson’s experience rigidity at some point during their Parkinson’s progression.
Rigidity is when your muscles feel stiff and tighten involuntarily. It can occur in your arms, legs, neck, back, and even smaller facial muscles. Some people experience it more on one side of their body, but others experience it in both. This stiffness can decrease your range of motion and cause pain and achiness in your joints and muscles.
For some people, the initial motor symptom of Parkinson’s is tightness in one limb. Stiffness in the shoulder when putting on a coat could be due to a golf game yesterday or impingement of the shoulder joint, which is an orthopedic problem. However, it could also be a pre-motor symptom of Parkinson’s, which can start years before your diagnosis of Parkinson’s.
Though tremor is the most well-known, visible, and recognized motor symptom of Parkinson’s, rigidity is another primary motor symptoms used to diagnose Parkinson’s. The other two are slowness of movement (bradykinesia) and postural instability. Since bradykinesia impacts rigidity, it’s important to consider both when diagnosing and treating. And because rigidity can be painful and uncomfortable, be sure to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Treatment and medication that offer relief for rigidity are available.
"Motion is lotion.” – Marty Acevedo, Davis Phinney Ambassador
What impact can rigidity have on my life?
This content was originally published by the Davis Phinney Foundation. Continue reading the original English version here.