Akinesia is a loss of motor function associated with medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, medication side effects, brain injury, and heart disease. Treatment options vary depending on the cause, and physical therapy can help prevent complications in bedridden patients.
Akinesia is a medical term that describes a loss of motor function. The term literally means “without movement”. It is associated with a number of medical conditions, perhaps most notably Parkinson’s disease, and can also be caused by certain medications and injury to the brain, especially the basal ganglia of the brain. Treatment options for this movement disorder vary depending on what’s causing the lack of movement. People who develop akinesia often know why the movement disorder is emerging because it is usually a complication of another condition, but they should still be evaluated by a doctor.
Progressive neurological conditions can lead to akinesia because the patient’s brain becomes damaged and the pathways used to direct movement are damaged. Many patients experience symptoms such as tremors, slowed movement, and poor motor control before loss of movement develops. Akinesia can also be the result of nerve damage. Injuries to the brain, such as when a patient is injured in a car accident, cause akinesia for similar reasons.
Some drugs used to treat mental illness have been linked to movement disorders, including akinesia. When a patient develops akinesia as a side effect, alternative medications can be explored. If the patient’s medication is changed, the patient can regain motor control. In some cases, however, alternatives may not be available and the patient may have to decide between no medication and taking the medication, but impairments occur as a result.
Akinesia can also describe damage to an organ, such as the heart. Some patients develop a condition known as an akinetic septum after surgery or as a result of heart disease, particularly ischemic heart disease in which parts of the heart are deprived of oxygen and die. Medical imaging studies such as ultrasound can be used to determine that part of the heart is not moving. It is also possible to be born with congenital akinesia due to chromosomal variations or problems that occurred during fetal development.
People with chronic illnesses that require them to spend a lot of time in bed may develop akinesia due to inactivity. They can also develop conditions such as flexed joints. Gentle physical therapy can be used to provide supportive care to such patients so they are less likely to develop these complications. This can include stretching positions in which the caregiver draws the patient to stretch the muscles and gently work the joints.
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