Parkinson’s gait is a hallmark symptom of Parkinson’s disease, characterized by short shuffles while walking. It is caused by a degenerative neurological disease affecting 4 to 6.5 million people worldwide, with dopamine and norepinephrine involvement. Parkinson’s gait becomes increasingly problematic as the disease progresses, often leading to freezing in place.
Parkinson’s gait is a hallmark symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is characterized by short shuffles while walking. As PD progresses, this unsteady gait becomes increasingly problematic, often leading to freezing in place. The cause of the gait disturbances in Parkinson’s disease is not well understood, but the medical community generally agrees that the neurotransmitter dopamine is involved.
The disease is a degenerative neurological disease affecting 4 to 6.5 million people worldwide, approximately 1% of adults. It usually affects more men than women and usually begins in middle age. While the specific cause is not known, some risk factors include a genetic predisposition and exposure to environmental toxins. Having a family member with Parkinson’s increases the risk of developing this disorder, but the overall chance of having Parkinson’s disease is about 5%.
Parkinson’s gait is usually not apparent until the disorder has progressed. The first symptom of Parkinson’s is usually a rubbing of the index finger and thumb of one hand, a behavior generally known as “roll roll”. This persistent, involuntary muscle movement typically radiates to the other side of the body over time. As neurological connections degenerate, voluntary and involuntary movements become more difficult. This often leads to the Parkinson patient’s unsteady and uncertain walking known as Parkinson’s gait.
Freezing gait, also known as FOG, often occurs in people who have had Parkinson’s disease for more than five years. This form of Parkinson’s gait feels like sudden freezing when walking. Person is unable to move automatically or initiate forward movement. FOG is probably the most debilitating of the Parkinson’s gait disorders, as it typically causes the person to fall and injure himself.
Parkinson’s gait disturbances are usually disabling, robbing the PD patient of his independence. Not being able to walk consistently and predictably puts the person at greater risk of injury and places increasingly severe limitations on mobility and range.
In addition to difficulties with the voluntary movements of walking, involuntary movements can become difficult or impossible. People with Parkinson’s may not be able to swing their arms while walking or even blink. Speech sometimes becomes garbled as the muscles needed to form words are not under the patient’s control.
Most medical experts agree that dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for movement initiation, is involved in Parkinson’s disease, although it’s not clear how. The Parkinson’s patient may produce too little dopamine or be unable to use the dopamine that he has. Another neurotransmitter called norepinephrine that helps regulate the autonomic nervous system has been found to be low in most Parkinson’s patients. It is unclear whether the decrease in these chemical messengers causes or is caused by Parkinson’s.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
