Akinesia

Akinesia is a loss or near loss of movement. It happens when your body has trouble starting a movement or doesn’t move at all. You might feel “frozen” mid-step or struggle just to get going.

Akinesia is different from bradykinesia. This is moving more slowly than usual. While both can happen in Parkinson’s disease and similar conditions, akinesia refers specifically to difficulty starting or producing movement — not just moving slowly.

Treatment options are available. Your care team can help you manage it and the underlying cause.

What does akinesia feel like?

With this symptom, your brain tells your muscles to move — but they don’t always get the message. That disconnect can make everyday tasks feel hard or impossible. Depending on how severe it is, you might have:

• Trouble initiating movement: You may feel like your body won’t respond when you want to move, especially when trying to take your first step or begin a task.
• Freezing episodes: You may suddenly feel “stuck” in the middle of moving, like your feet are glued to the floor. This often happens when starting to walk, turning or going through narrow spaces.

Feeling stuck or unable to move can be frightening. You might feel anxious or panicked during freezing episodes.

In rare and severe cases of Parkinson’s disease or related Parkinsonian syndromes, you may develop an akinetic crisis (also called an akinesia crisis). During this emergency, symptoms may suddenly get much worse. You might experience:

• Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
• Confusion or changes in thinking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Not being able to move at all

What is fetal akinesia?

Akinesia may affect a developing fetus. Fetal akinesia is when a fetus doesn’t move or moves less than expected. You may notice fewer kicks or feel that something isn’t quite right during pregnancy.

In many cases, fetal akinesia links a genetic disorder that affects how nerves and muscles develop or work. These changes can make it harder — or sometimes impossible — for a fetus to move before birth.

Fetal akinesia can be part of a condition called fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS). FADS is a serious disorder that affects how a fetus’s body develops during pregnancy. In some cases, it can lead to stillbirth. Babies born with FADS may have underdeveloped lungs or small lower jaws.

These are difficult realities to face. Your care team will be with you every step of the way to help guide testing, answer questions and provide support.

What causes akinesia?

Akinesia happens when something affects the parts of your brain that control movement — especially areas like your basal ganglia and frontal lobes. These changes interfere with your brain’s ability to initiate or carry out movement.

Healthcare providers often group the causes into three main categories.

• Parkinsonian syndromes
• Secondary causes
• Atypical dementia conditions

Parkinsonian syndromes

These are the most common causes of akinesia. They affect how your brain uses dopamine. This is a chemical that helps control movement. Conditions may include:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple system atrophy
• Lewy body dementia

Rarely, akinesia may appear as part of a condition called pure akinesia with gait freezing. This is often considered part of the progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) spectrum.

Secondary causes

Sometimes, akinesia develops because of another condition or injury that affects movement centers in your brain. Examples include:

• Normal-pressure hydrocephalus
• Traumatic injury to your frontal lobe or basal ganglia

Atypical dementia conditions

Certain dementias that affect your frontal lobes or movement circuits can also lead to this symptom. Frontotemporal dementia is one example.

How is akinesia treated?

There’s no cure for akinesia, but there are ways to manage it. Treatment varies based on the cause, but often includes a combination of the following:

• Taking medications: This depends on the cause. For example, if you have Parkinson’s, your provider may give you medicines that increase or replace dopamine. These may improve your ability to start and carry out movements.
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to build strength and flexibility, especially in your core. This may make everyday movements feel more manageable — from getting out of a chair to walking through a doorway.
• Surgery: In some cases of Parkinson’s disease, your provider may recommend deep brain stimulation (DBS). This surgical treatment places a small device in specific areas of your brain to help regulate movement signals. DBS isn’t used for all causes, but it may help when medications don’t work well.

What are the possible complications of not treating akinesia?

Without treatment, this symptom may cause many serious and sometimes life-threatening problems, like:

• Feeling depressed
• Falling and getting hurt
• Needing help to move or take care of yourself
• Not getting enough food or water
• Not being able to move at all
• Removing yourself from social situations

When should akinesia be treated by a healthcare provider?

If you’re having trouble moving, reach out to a healthcare provider. These changes might be subtle at first, but they can signal serious conditions that need attention, like Parkinson’s or other brain and nerve problems.

If you suddenly can’t move at all, have trouble swallowing or feel very confused, seek medical help immediately. This can be an emergency.