What does bradykinesia mean?
Bradykinesia refers to an abnormal slowness of voluntary movement, and it is best known as one of the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease, where it appears alongside tremor and muscular rigidity. The term comes from Greek roots: bradys, meaning 'slow', and kinesis, meaning 'movement'. Clinically, bradykinesia shows itself in small, deliberate ways before it becomes disabling — a fading of spontaneous gestures, a flattening of facial expression, difficulty initiating actions such as rising from a chair, and tasks like writing or buttoning clothes that grow progressively slower. Neurologists often test for it by asking patients to perform rapid repetitive movements, such as tapping a finger and thumb together. Because it directly affects quality of life, bradykinesia is a key target of treatments such as levodopa and deep brain stimulation. Though strictly a medical word, it has gained wider recognition as public awareness of Parkinson's disease has grown.
nounAbnormal slowness of physical movement, typically as a symptom of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
- Abnormally slowed movement, especially as a cardinal motor symptom of Parkinson's disease and related neurological conditions.
"One of the earliest signs of her Parkinson's was a subtle bradykinesia that made everyday tasks like buttoning a shirt take far longer than before."
"Neurologists assess bradykinesia by asking patients to tap their finger and thumb rapidly and repetitively."
"As the disease progressed, his bradykinesia made walking feel as though his feet were glued to the floor."
Rarely pluralized; the singular is standard even when referring to multiple manifestations, though the plural appears occasionally in specialist literature describing different types or instances.
"The study catalogued the various bradykinesias observed across the patient cohort."
The same Greek root that gives 'bradykinesia' its meaning — bradys, 'slow' — also hides inside the word for a slow heartbeat, so doctors can tell you exactly which part of you is running late.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bradykinesia
Bradykinesia derives from two ancient Greek elements: bradys ('slow') and kinesis ('movement'), the latter from the verb kinein ('to move'). It entered English through modern medical Latin, coined during the nineteenth-century growth of clinical neurology. It shares its roots with a family of related terms, including kinetic, cinema (via kinema, 'movement'), and the parallel medical terms akinesia and dyskinesia; the prefix brady- likewise appears in bradycardia.
How bradykinesia is actually used
A formal medical term used almost exclusively in clinical and scientific contexts; it is one of the cardinal diagnostic features of Parkinsonism, alongside tremor and rigidity.
Easily confused with bradykinesia
Bradycardia is an abnormally slow heart rate, whereas bradykinesia is an abnormally slow speed of body movements.