Akinetic-rigid syndrome: description, causes, symptoms and treatment

The nervous system is the mechanism by which all human organs interact with each other. If there are problems with the nerve endings, then these connections are broken, which leads to problems with the functionality of the body. Akinetic-rigid syndrome is a complex progressive disease, which is characterized by a violation of the motor activity of a person, up to complete paralysis.

Features of the disease

The disease is one of the disorders of the motor system, in which there is an increase in the tonus of muscle tissue by the plastic type. In addition, there is a significant slowdown in voluntary movements.

The presented pathology can be safely attributed to the number of those that only progress with time and, actively developing, at one fine moment deprive a person of the ability to move around or perform basic work.

Akinetic-rigid syndrome is characterized by a large number of unpleasant symptoms, the intensity of which increases with time. Before treatment is prescribed, the patient must undergo a thorough diagnosis.

The presented pathology is associated with impaired functionality of those parts of the brain that are responsible for performing motor actions. When making a diagnosis, special attention needs to be paid to a hereditary predisposition.

Development reasons

So, akinetic-rigid syndrome can provoke such reasons:

• Negative consequences after encephalitis.
• Paralysis accompanied by tremors of the lower and upper limbs.
• Hydrocephalus.
• Hepato-cerebral dystrophy.
• Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the brain.
• Serious poisoning with intoxication of the whole organism.
• A history of traumatic brain injury.
• Pathologies that are cumulative.
• Parkinson's disease (the most common cause).
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Neurosyphilis.
• Cortico-basal degeneration.
• The presence of HIV infection in the body.

If the patient has a suspicion of akinetic-rigid syndrome, the causes and symptoms of the pathology should be examined with special care. Incorrectly diagnosed can be fraught with disastrous consequences.

Symptoms of pathology

Akinetic-rigid syndrome can have the following symptoms:

1. The formation of muscle hypertonicity, which is present in the patient throughout the course of therapy.
2. Incomplete extension of the upper limbs. At the same time, arms are bent not only at the elbows, but also in the hands.
3. Inadequate extension of the legs at the knees, which progresses over time.
4. Lowering the head closer to the chest.
5. Loss of intensity and variety of movements.
6. Slowdown of any motor actions.
7. Tremor of the upper and lower extremities, as well as the jaw. When moving, this symptomatology decreases slightly.
8. Indistinct speech. When talking, a person practically does not express any emotions.
9. Problems with thinking.
10. The lack of reactions of facial muscles, even in everyday life.
11. Communication loop.
12. The impossibility of independent movement.

Akinetic-rigid syndrome even affects a person’s handwriting: it becomes small, so it is difficult to parse it.

Varieties of pathology

The presented disease can be classified as follows:

• Akinetic-rigid form. It is manifested by akinesia, as well as muscle weakness.
• Rigid-trembling form. This kind of syndrome is mixed. It combines tremor of all limbs, as well as muscle dysfunction.
• Shivering form. Despite the fact that the patient has tremor of the extremities, there is no muscle weakness or it is weakly expressed. Legs and hands tremble almost constantly. This form implies a lack of ability to serve yourself - even to hold a cup.

Pathology diagnostics

Akinetic-rigid syndrome is a complex disease that requires differential diagnosis. When making a diagnosis, the doctor must take into account the following data:

1. Complaints of the patient, as well as his anamnesis to determine the cause of the development of pathology (hereditary predisposition).
2. Laboratory tests.
3. Research reflexes.

The patient needs a consultation of a neurologist, since the pathology is associated with insufficient functionality of the nerves.

The degree of development of pathology

What is akinetic-rigid syndrome is already known, further, it is necessary to carefully consider the degree of development of pathology:

1. Easy. Signs of the disease can only spread to one limb. At the same time, muscle tone increases slightly. Movement becomes slightly slower, tremor is clearly visible.
2. Moderate. The patient's expression is poorly expressed (it becomes poorer), movements become slightly constrained. The variety of movements becomes poorer, and the tremor of the hands at rest is not very sweeping. The patient is in a slightly hunched posture, which is reflected in his gait. A type of muscle tone increase is extrapyramidal.
3. Expressed. The facial muscles in this case do not function almost completely. Movement becomes even slower, tremor intensifies. The patient begins to move in small steps. His pose remains hunched over. The patient's speech becomes blurry, not entirely clear.
4. Pronounced. The stiffness of the muscles in this case is general, the patient practically does not rise to his feet, he is bedridden. Amimia reaches such a level that a person begins even rarely to blink. Inhibition is present not only in movements, but also in mental processes. Speech is almost impossible to make out.

As can be seen from the previous information, the presented disease has an unpleasant and even dangerous dynamics. Therefore, at the first signs, you should consult a doctor.

Features of the treatment of pathology

So, the treatment of akinetic-rigid syndrome depends on the severity of its development. In severe cases, a person can be placed in a hospital. Therapy involves:

1. Reception of muscle relaxants - special medications that help relax muscles and reduce their tone. Among these drugs can be distinguished: "Meprotan", "Midokalm", "Flexin".
2. The use of drugs prescribed for Parkinson's disease. These drugs make it possible to combat the manifestations of paralysis, and also help to resist motor dysfunction: Lysuride, Pyridoxine, Romparkin, Levodopa. Naturally, these drugs are very strong and have many side effects. Quite a lot of drugs can be used to treat the syndrome, since they are not always effective, and the disease itself has many different symptoms. There are no universal remedies for the treatment of the disease.

During the rehabilitation period, which lasts almost all of life, physiotherapeutic procedures are actively used. They make it possible to restore damaged muscle groups and strengthen them. This is especially true of the tissues of the spine and joints.

The psychological support of relevant specialists is also important. In particularly difficult cases, surgery may be recommended. Doctors perform stereotactic neurosurgery. It allows you to restore damaged tissue.

The degree of disability in the disease

Treatment of akinetic-rigid syndrome is constant and long. However, in most cases, it still leads to a limitation of life:

Forecast

If a person is diagnosed with akinetic-rigid syndrome, the consequences can be unpredictable. The constant progression of pathology usually leads to partial or complete paralysis of the limbs. That is, without crutches a person will not be able to walk or will be bedridden.

In most cases, pathological changes are irreversible. Treatment is carried out to support more or less normal motor functionality, as well as to slow down the development of the disease. In any case, one cannot lose heart. Timely therapy will provide an opportunity to slightly improve the patient's condition.

That's all the features of akinetic-rigid syndrome. Be healthy!