Final answer:
In patients with Parkinson's disease, muscle rigidity and bradykinesia are common findings during passive range of motion testing, reflecting the disease's impact on the central nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
When testing a passive range of motion on a patient suspected of having Parkinson's disease, you would expect to find some level of muscle rigidity. Parkinson's disease is marked by a characteristic rigidity that may present during the examination. In addition to rigidity, you could also observe bradykinesia (slowness of movement), which is another hallmark of Parkinson's disease. These symptoms contrast with the hypotonicity that would indicate issues with the lower motor neurons (LMN). It is important to note that Parkinson's disease primarily involves the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which leads to the symptoms described above.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. Symptoms start slowly. The first symptom may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder may also cause stiffness or slowing of movement.