Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing incurable neurological condition in the world at the moment. After Alzheimer’s disease, it is also the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, with almost 90,000 new patients diagnosed every year in the US alone. In the United Kingdom, the condition affects around 153,000 people. According to Parkinson’s UK, there is a significant gap in knowledge regarding the broader Parkinson’s disease symptoms and their impact. The condition can present more than 40 different symptoms and impacts each person differently. While the more commonly known symptoms are typically related to movement, there are several other Parkinson’s disease symptoms that people tend to dismiss or miss altogether.
Stiffness
Many Parkinson’s patients experience muscle rigidity or stiffness, affecting either one or both sides of their body. This feeling of stiffness reduces the person’s range of motion and often causes aches, pains, and general discomfort in the joints and muscles. It can also result in certain physical changes, such as a reduction in arm swinging when walking. This stiffness typically makes performing everyday activities very challenging. It also potentially contributes to slower mobility and fatigue over time.