Every condition, profession, sport, and what-have-you has its own vocabulary and its own acronyms. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is no different. The following list contains terms and abbreviations that are part of the Parkinson’s world:
-
akinesia: Inability to move spontaneously
-
ataxia: Impaired balance and coordination
-
bradykinesia: Slowed movement
-
carbidopa/levodopa: Medication to relieve PD symptoms
-
dopamine: Acts as one of the brain's messengers to signal movement and maintain balance and coordination
-
dyskinesia: Abnormal involuntary movements
-
PD: Parkinson’s disease
-
PWP: Person (or people) with Parkinson’s disease
-
T.R.A.P.: Acronym for four primary PD symptoms:
-
Tremor: Shaking of limb (usually hand) while at rest
-
Rigidity: Muscle stiffness and resistance to movement
-
Akinesia/bradykinesia: see above
-
Postural instability: See ataxia above
-
