bradykinesia
Pronunciation: brad-ee-ki-NEE-zhuh
Slowness of movement characteristic of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
Full Definition
Bradykinesia refers to the abnormal slowness of voluntary movement that is a cardinal feature of Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian syndromes. It manifests as delayed initiation of movement, reduced amplitude of repetitive actions, and progressive fatigue during sustained motor tasks. In clinical documentation, bradykinesia is often assessed through specific tests such as finger tapping, hand opening and closing, and toe tapping. The term is distinct from akinesia (absence of movement) and hypokinesia (reduced amplitude of movement), though these terms are sometimes used interchangeably in less precise clinical writing.
Usage
Usage note: Often hyphenated when used as a compound modifier (bradykinesia-rigidity syndrome).
In Context
- "The patient demonstrated significant bradykinesia during finger-to-nose testing with progressive decrement." — movement disorder examination
- "Dopaminergic medication improved the bradykinesia but resulted in peak-dose dyskinesias." — Parkinson's treatment note