How my dad’s facing rigidity in Parkinson’s disease

One of the more challenging Parkinson’s disease symptoms that my dad navigates is stiffness or rigidity, which makes the mornings hard on him. He does his morning stretches to counteract the problem, but it puts a hamper on his groove.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the stiffness comes from a tough boxing class, growing old, or Parkinson’s disease. But we do know that 90% of people with Parkinson’s experience muscle rigidity, so he isn’t alone in his experience.

Muscle rigidity translates into limited mobility and involuntary tightness. It can rear its ugly head in a number of ways, taking hold of your limbs, back, neck, and even your face. It can also show itself differently in each person, sometimes favoring one side or only affecting specific muscle groups. Although the tremor is the easiest symptom to recognize in Parkinson’s, muscle rigidity is actually a primary symptom of the disease. Dad sees the most of that in his limbs as he struggles with tight calves and arms.

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How Dad manages his muscle rigidity

Dad implements a few strategies to manage his muscle stiffness. One of those is taking levodopa, which increases dopamine levels to the brain and helps to create more fluid movements. He also stretches regularly, both on his own at home and in class. Strategies that might also help him include a warm soak in the bathtub or in a hot tub, physical therapy, and exercise in general, which boosts muscle mobility.

While reading Parkinson’s News Today, I also learned that loud, startling noises could decrease muscle stiffness, although I don’t think I want to investigate Dad’s startle reflex at this time.

Is it aging, or is it Parkinson’s?

One thing I think about a lot when it comes to witnessing Dad’s Parkinson’s struggle is the difference between aging and Parkinson’s disease progression. Maybe it’s not fair to use my mom (who doesn’t have Parkinson’s) as a baseline while evaluating my dad. But sometimes her aging process does give us clues into my dad’s experience.

When it comes to her muscles, my mom is also stiffer than she once was. Enhanced muscle stiffness is a common occurrence among the aging population as well as among Parkinson’s patients. However, Parkinson’s muscle tightness and stiffness is generally more pronounced, significantly hampering motion and mobility among those it impacts. Dad has described this sensation as “heavy,” saying that it feels like he’s glued to the ground — and it’s difficult for him to fight gravity.

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.