Basal Ganglia Pathology Flashcards
Akinesia
In ability ot initiate movment and is seen in the late stages of PD
Associated with assumption and maintenance of fixed postures (freezing episodes)
Tremendous amount of effort is required to perform even the simplest motor activites
Athetosis
Slow, Involunatry, writhing, twisting, “wormlike” movements; frequently greater involved in distal UEs
Also referred to as athetoid movements
Pure athetosis is uncommon and typically present with spasticity, tonic spasms, or chorea
Bradykinesia
Decreased amplitude and velocity of voluntary movements
May be demonstrated in a variety of ways such as: decreased arm swings; slow, shuffling gait, difficulty initiation or changing direction; lack of facial expression; or difficulty stopping a movement once begun
Chorea
Characterized by involuntary, rapid, irregular, and jerky movements involving multiple joints.
Choreiform movements demonstrate irregular timing, are most apparent in the UE and cannot be voluntarily inhibited; associated with Huntington’s disease
Hemiballismus
Large-amplitude sudden violent, flailing motions of the arm and leg of one side of the body
Primary involvement is in the axial Nd proximal musculature of the limb
Hemiballismus results from a lesion of the contralateral subthalamic nucleus
Hyperkinesis
Abnormally increased muscle activity or movement
Hypokinesia
Decreased motor response especially to a specific stimulus
Rigidity
Increase in muscle tone causing greater resitance to passive movement
Tends to be more pronounced in the flexor muscles of the turnk and extremities causing activity limitations in such areas as: dressing, transfers, speech, eating, and postural control
Two kinds: lead-pipe rigidity and cog-wheel rigidity
Leadpipe rigidity
Uniform, constant resistance felt b the PT as the extremity is moved through a ROM
Cog-wheel rigidity
Considered a combination of the lead-pipe type with tremor. Characterized b a series of brief relaxations or “catches” as the extremity is passively moved
Resting Tremor
Typically disappear or decrease with purposeful movements, but may increase with emotional stress.
Where are tremors associated with basal ganglia lesions (eg PD) are frequently noted?
Distal UE in the form of “pill rolling” (looks as if a pill is being rolled bt two fingers and the thumb)