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Paul, The following is an extract from a short booklet I wrote on PD and my personal experience of it. I apologies in advance that it fails to meet your request for a "brief" response. "The facts about slow movement (Bradykinesia) (and difficulty starting movement.) The slowing down associated with PD results in a wide range of symptoms, including: an inability to start a movement (freezing) slow execution of a movement' a shuffling walk the slowing down of a movement until it stops (another type of freezing), reduced blinking, reduced arm swinging, difficulties with swallowing and eating, difficulties with speech, bowel and bladder problems, a 'mask-like' facial expression. Some personal comments on slow movement (bradykinesia) Bradykinesia, or slow movement is amoung the most invasive of all the PD symptoms. It affects the PWP on many levels, both physically and socially. A glance at the list of symptoms reads like a 'who's who' of the body and the difficulties associated with each symptom are, in the main, self evident. Body Language: What is not obvious is that the lack of facial expression, body movement, blinking, and spontaneity add up to a lack of body language. People in conversation with a PWP often form the opinion that the PWP is not interested in what they are saying. They are not getting those little encouraging nods, no smiles are forthcoming and the PWP could even be looking slightly away from them, making no apparent effort to make eye contact. It is hardly surprising that social contacts start to dry up. Even people who are aware of the problem have difficulty with it. Short of hanging a sign around our necks saying "I am listening-really", all we PWP's can do is make sure that people are aware of our difficulties and then periodically verbally reassure them that we are listening. Tiredness: Another source of friction associated with slow movement is the misconception that PWP move slowly because they are tired. This is not the case. Dr Parkinson called this disease the Shaking Palsy because the bradykinesia is a form of paralysis. Unfortunately no amount of encouragement or sleep will speed a PWP up. However the encouragement is very welcome if directed at maintaining a positive mental attitude." I hope this is some help Paul. Dennis. ************************************************* Dennis Greene 48/10 [log in to unmask] http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/ **************************************************