Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurological condition that occurs when the area of the brain that produces dopamine is damaged. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps electrical impulses or nerve impulses travel from the brain to various areas of your body. When the production of dopamine is interrupted many symptoms can develop and you may have uncontrolled movement. These symptoms can affect your legs as well.
Leg Tremors
If you have Parkinson's disease (PD) your legs may move in an uncontrolled fashion. You may develop tremors or shaking in your legs that may worsen when resting and improve with activity. You may find that stress and other factors tend to set your tremors off. In the initial stages your leg tremors may be hardly noticeable, but then get worse as the disease progresses.
Slow Movement
PD can cause a condition known as Bradykinesia. This means that you tend to move very slowly. You may know that you want to take a step forward and your brain may send the signals to your legs, but because dopamine is not present the signals can not get through. This means that you will be unable to step forward, until dopamine is present. This hesitation in movement is sometimes referred to as "freezing."
Difficulty Walking
PD tends to cause rigidity in your muscles. You may tend to walk with a shuffling gait. You may notice that you take small quick steps and scuff your toes as you walk. This may lead to a tendency to trip as you are moving. You will need to learn to take large steps and land with a heel strike every time you walk. You will also need to exercise to improve your balance, as these symptoms will increase your risk of taking a fall.
Leg Cramps and Restless Leg Syndrome
Having Parkinson's disease can also lead to leg pain or cramps that can be especially worse at night. They may come on suddenly and be quite severe. Leg cramps may subside as you put pressure on the affected leg and move around. You may also develop restless leg syndrome which is an urgent need to move your legs when you are trying to rest.
