“AWAKENING”

Seminar 2

Del Rosario, Roxette H.

13-01617

1. List all Parkinsonian Symptoms of the character Leonard during his childhood and adulthood.

Childhood

 Tremors
 Freezing phenomenon
 Micrographia
 Dysponia

Adulthood

 Dysphonia
 Micrographia
 Stooped posture
 Postural instability
 Shuffling (short-stepped gait)
 Trembling of extremities
 Rigidity
 bradykinesia
 Facial masking
 Resting tremors
 Emotional instability
 freezing

2. What was it that Dr. Sayer (Sacks) saw that make him think that the patients who seemed Catatonic
(Asleep) were perhaps alive inside?

When Dr. Sayer (Robin Williams) saw the result of Leonard Lowe’s (Robert de Niro)
electroencephalogram that shows that his brain activity is sparked when he hears his name.

3. L-dopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, what does this neurotransmitter influence? (Base your
answer on the observation made of patients treated with L-dopa in the movies.

It reduces tremors and motor related symptoms of PD that enables them;

 to speak in a normal way

 to sit and stand in a stable posture
 to do simple ADLs like combing, going to the bathroom, eating etc.
  to perform motor related activities like dancing, constructing things, writing, walking, running.

4. Is there any Physical therapy intervention seen in the movie? If Yes, what are they? Yes.

a. Movement Strategy Training

 Throwing and catching of ball

 Music based movement
 Walking through patterns on the floor

b. Exercise

 Loud rhythmical clapping

 Paced walking
 Functional practice/exercise like allowing the pt. to do simple task for themselves; combing,
shaving using an electric razor etc.

5. Best part of the movie? Why?

For me the best part of the movie is when Leonard bid goodbye to Paula because his condition had
worsened. Leonard reaches Paula’s hand for a handshake even though he’s trembling but then she put
his arms around her waist and they start to dance at the cafeteria. At that moment Leonard’s trembling
has lessening and they able to dance slowly and cheeks to cheeks.

It shows that when pharmacological treatment fails other methods, both social and on a personal basis,
can somehow substitute the effects of L-dopa. Maybe it doesn’t have the full effects of the drug but it
simply feature that the human spirit may enable his body to achieve that brief period of “awakening”.