The extrapyramidal syndrome is a motor syndrome that is caused by injury or degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and their pathways of association. Specifically, the region of the brain that is damaged in this syndrome is the extrapyramidal pathway. This pathway is responsible for performing functions such as maintaining posture and balance, controlling involuntary movements and controlling muscle tone..
In this sense, the main symptoms of extrapyramidal syndrome are amymia, static attitude, specific walking, lack of postural reflexes, alterations in language and alterations in writing..
This condition occurs mainly through two causes: head trauma to specific regions of the brain and adverse reaction to antipsychotic drugs..
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The extrapyramidal syndrome is an alteration that originates due to the injury of the system in charge of automatically controlling the muscular tone and the movements that accompanies the voluntary movements.
This system is known as extrapyramidal and is formed by a neural network that involves both regions of the central nervous system and structures of the motor system..
Extrapyramidal syndrome is understood as a set of signs and symptoms that manifest injury to the extrapyramidal system. As a result of this condition, the person may experience high impairments in their movement processes. Likewise, they may have muscle stiffness, tremors or involuntary restlessness..
On the other hand, extrapyramidal syndrome can also affect ocular function, tongue protrusion, saliva production, control of facial features and tonic contractions..
Finally, this alteration can also motivate the appearance of psychological symptoms such as restlessness or restlessness and the deterioration of cognitive functions.
The symptoms of extrapyramidal syndrome are basically motor. In fact, this condition tends to present two main manifestations: hypertonia and hypokinesia.
Hypertonia refers to an exaggerated increase in muscle tension, while hypokinesia results in a notable decrease in the speed of voluntary movements and the limitation of their extension.
In this sense, the extrapyramidal syndrome causes a reduction in movement capacity and an increase in muscle tension in the body, especially in the extremities..
However, these two main manifestations usually give rise to other types of symptoms, thus generating a much more varied symptomatology of the pathology. The main symptoms that extrapyramidal syndrome usually produces are:
It is common for people with extrapyramidal syndrome to develop a noticeable expressionless face.
The small muscles of the face appear more rigid than normal, so the individual is unable to express their moods through the face.
In fact, several authors comment that one of the main signs of extrapyramidal syndrome is the "face of a poker player" or the "face of a mask" of patients.
Another typical manifestation of the extrapyramidal syndrome lies in the generalized composure of the person's body.
It is usual for subjects with this type of condition to present both the trunk and the head with a more advanced posture than normal. Likewise, the arms are usually close to the body and the elbows, wrists and fingers are usually flexed..
Muscle stiffness and reduced movement capacity often have a direct impact on walking in people with extrapyramidal syndrome.
Subjects with this condition start from the static posture discussed above. When they start walking, they usually start with taking small steps.
In general, the extrapyramidal syndrome causes a forward leaning gait, as if searching for the center of gravity. As the gait develops, the walk becomes clearer through small steps.
Likewise, people with this syndrome often have many difficulties to retain their gait (feast) and do not usually move their arms while walking..
As a final result, a high facility is acquired to lose balance and suffer frequent falls..
People with extrapyramidal syndrome lack defense movements and automatic motor joints.
This fact means that if they are pushed, they fall automatically, without having the opportunity to make motor changes that can prevent loss of balance..
Likewise, for example, if a person with extrapyramidal syndrome is told that the chair is going to be removed just as they are sitting down, they will not have sufficient mechanisms to interrupt the sitting behavior and will fall to the floor.
In some cases, the symptoms in speech can become very noticeable in this disease. In general, speech is usually weak, monotonous and without modulation. Likewise, subjects with extrapyramidal syndrome have difficulties when expressing their state of mind or emotions through speech..
Finally, the movement disorders typical of extrapyramidal syndrome also have a negative impact on writing. This is usually irregular and with tiny letters.
Extrapyramidal syndrome is a condition that is caused by injury to the extrapyramidal system. That is, in the polysynaptic nerve pathways that include the basal nuclei and the subcortical nuclei.
These damages are usually caused by two main factors: direct trauma to one of these brain regions that causes the injury, or the adverse reaction to antipsychotic drugs due to the dysregulation of dopamine (a substance highly involved in movement processes)..
Extrapyramidal syndrome is a condition that requires pharmacological treatment through the administration of anticholinergic and / or dopoaminergic drugs..
Physiotherapy is a therapeutic tool that is very useful especially in those people who present stiffness and flexion contractures.
Likewise, it is important that the person maintains, as far as possible, the highest degree of independence and functionality possible..
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