Parkinson's Disease Examination

NeurologyYear 3

The Parkinsonian station is a pattern-recognition exercise: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability. This checklist also prompts the features that separate idiopathic Parkinson's from the Parkinson-plus syndromes and drug-induced parkinsonism.

Marking points
35
Run-through
~9m
Progress
Saved on your device only
1

Introduction

0/5
2

Inspection

0/3
  • Assess if patient appears well or unwell

3

While standing up

0/11
  • Pull patient backwards from the shoulders. Assess for inability to maintain balance. Stand behind patient to catch them if they lose balance.

4

Face

0/5
  • May be due to bradykinesia

  • Positive when ongoing blink response to tapping

  • Loss of vertical gaze, predominantly upwards suggestive of Idiopathic Parkinson's. Loss of vertical and lateral gaze suggests PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy).

5

Upper limb

0/4
  • Check if tremor increases with distraction or decreases with intention

  • Assesses bradykinesia

  • Check for cogwheeling, lead pipe rigidity

6

Speech

0/2
  • Ask patient to write a sentence and assess for small handwriting

7

Parkinson's Plus symptoms

0/1
8

Ask about

0/2
0/35