Serious Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease

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.

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