10 Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Symptom #3: Rigidity
Rigidity in Parkinson’s disease can be described as a feeling of resistance and stiffness during movement due to increased muscle tone as there is a continuous and excessive contraction of muscles. Medical professionals often describe it as “lead pipe rigidity” if the rigidity is uniform or “cogwheel rigidity” if the rigidity is ratchety.
Many believe that the cogwheel rigidity is a result of the combination of increased tone and tremors. Some patients may also experience joint pain as an initial manifestation of the disease. In the early stages of the disease, the rigidity is often asymmetrical and mostly affects the neck and shoulder muscles before affecting the face and extremities. As the disease progresses, the whole body is affected, reducing the ability of the body to move.
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