Akinesia is a movement disorder studied in several medical disciplines. In neurology, parkinsonian akinesia is defined as slowness in movement. In cardiology, cardiac akinesia corresponds to the absence of movements of the myocardium.

Akinesia is a movement disorder. A person with akinesis has an inability or difficulty in performing certain muscle movements. Akinesia should not be confused with dyskinesia, which is abnormal muscle movement.

Akinesia is a movement disorder diagnosed and studied in several medical disciplines.

Neurology: the case of parkinsonian akinesia

In neurology, akinesia is a sign of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive destruction of neurons in the brain. Parkinson’s disease manifests itself with three characteristic symptoms: stiffness, tremors, and akinesia. Parkinsonian akinesia is often defined as slowness of movement.

Cardiology: the case of cardiac akinesia

In cardiology, akinesia more precisely designates the absence of movements of the myocardium (heart muscle). Cardiac akinesia is often the consequence or the sequel of a myocardial infarction. Commonly known as a heart attack, myocardial infarction is the destruction of part of the heart muscle.

The consequences and the evolution of akinesia depend on several parameters including its origin.

What are the consequences of parkinsonian akinesia?

Parkinsonian akinesia can cause several difficulties in daily life. A person with akinesis may experience difficulty or an inability to achieve:

• voluntary or involuntary actions;
• precise or complex gestures;
• simultaneous, coordinated or repetitive movements.

Parkinsonian akinesia results in a slowness in movement. This can induce:

• feeling very tired when performing movements;
• a feeling of blockage, which can lead to immobility;
• a change in approach, in particular with asymmetric and increasingly shorter pitches;
• speech disorders, which can be manifested by monotonous speech and accelerated flow;
• difficulty writing, such as a micrograph, with writing that becomes smaller or even illegible.

How does cardiac akinesia evolve?

Cardiac akinesias are subject to medical monitoring to limit the risk of complications. After a myocardial infarction, several examinations are performed to identify the affected area of ​​the myocardium, measure the extent of the damage, detect a possible complication and assess the risk of recurrence.

In the event of akinesia, preventive measures are usually put in place to limit the risk of complications. The management of akinesia is often based on re-education, that is to say on the realization of care and exercises to fluidify the movements, compensate for the loss of automatisms and improve the quality of life of people with akinesis.

Parkinsonian akinesia: symptom control

When diagnosing Parkinson’s disease, several therapeutic avenues can be considered to limit the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms including akinesia. The management of parkinsonian akinesia can be based in particular on:

• maintaining an active lifestyle with the practice of gentle physical activity;
• relaxation, in particular through yoga sessions;
• re-education, which can involve different specialists including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists;
• the medication, which may be based on different drugs such as L-dopa, dopamine agonists or anticholinergics;
• psychological follow-up, especially in the event of a feeling of unease or withdrawal.

Cardiac akinesia: cardiac rehabilitation

Following a myocardial infarction, cardiac rehabilitation, or cardiac rehabilitation, is often recommended to limit the risk of recurrence and restore the patient’s capacities. This support can involve various specialists including cardiologists, physiotherapists and psychologists.

Cardiac rehabilitation is essentially based on:

• physical rehabilitation, under medical supervision, with the practice of various exercises of progressive intensity;
• therapeutic patient education, which consists of limiting cardiovascular risk factors.