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muscle rigidity
Etiology:
- extrapyramidal disorders
a) parkinsonism
- Parkinson's disease
- Parkinson Plus syndrome
- Lewy body dementia
b) neuroleptic malignant syndrome
c) corticobasal degeneration
d) 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:
1) muscle spasm
2) paratonia
3) catatonia
Related
catatonia
muscle spasm
muscle stiffness
muscle tone
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
paratonia (gegenhalten)
parkinsonism
Specific
abdominal rigidity
nuchal rigidity (neck stiffness)
General
rigidity (increased muscle tone)
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed.
Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 107
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2021