15 Lesser-Known Signs That May Point to Parkinson’s Disease

5. Movements Slow Down

The slowness of movement, bradykinesia, is one of the three hallmark symptoms a physician looks for when making a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. An individual who has Parkinson's disease may experience a decrease in the speed of their automatic movements, such as swinging of the arms when walking and blinking their eyes. Another issue that occurs in patients as a result of bradykinesia is problems with the initiation of movement, like when the individual is attempting to get up from a seated position. The slowness of movement may also manifest as an abnormal stillness in the patient's face or a reduction in their facial expressions. Everyday functions are often impacted by bradykinesia, such as brushing the teeth, cutting up food, pouring a glass of milk, or buttoning a shirt. The slowness of movement tends to occur unpredictably. One minute an affected individual can move with ease, and the next minute they may require help performing basic everyday tasks.

6. Impaired Posture

One of the most common hallmark symptoms of Parkinson's disease is impaired posture. An individual with Parkinson's disease will often have an increasingly stooped posture that causes their shoulders to hunch forward, rather than being aligned with their hips and feet. The cause of the posture is an increase in muscle stiffness or rigidity. Parkinsonian posture tends to include rounded shoulders, a head positioned forward, increased trunk flexion, and bent knees. Posture can affect a patient's ability to speak loudly and clearly, ability to move their upper extremities and neck, perception of where their body is in the space around them, balance, postural muscle strength, and ability to swallow. Some individuals also experience headaches and pain in their jaw joints. Certain stretching and strengthening exercises can be used to help correct posture. A physical therapist may be able to recommend a routine that's best for each patient.