muscle rigidity

Etiology

• extrapyramidal disorders
  • parkinsonism
    • Parkinson's disease
    • Parkinson Plus syndrome
    • Lewy body dementia
  • neuroleptic malignant syndrome
  • corticobasal degeneration
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Clinical manifestations

• increased muscle tone that is present throughout the range of motion (lead-pipe or plastic stiffness)
• rigidity affects flexors & extensors equally
• asymmetric muscle rigidity in corticobasal degeneration
• muscle rigidity less common & less commonly asymmetric in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Differential diagnosis

• muscle spasm
• paratonia
• catatonia

More general terms

• rigidity (increased muscle tone)

More specific terms

• abdominal rigidity
• nuchal rigidity (neck stiffness)

Additional terms

• catatonia
• muscle spasm
• muscle stiffness
• muscle tone
• neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• paratonia (gegenhalten)
• parkinsonism