Introduction
Symptoms tend to appear gradually, normally in just one side of the body at first, although both sides may be affected as Parkinson's progresses. Each person will encounter different symptoms, in terms of severity and rate of progression, and there may be fluctuations from day to day, with 'good' and 'bad' days being experienced.
Traditionally healthcare professionals focused on the more obvious, physical or ‘motor’ symptoms, such as tremor, stiffness and falls. However, the often invisible ‘non-motor’ symptoms, such as anxiety, pain and sleep difficulties now receive greater attention and it is increasingly recognised that managing them well plays an important role in maintaining quality of life.
