First I suggest she go to a Movement Disorder Specialist, rather than a general practice/family doctor or a general practice neurologist.
This page at the University of Maryland will give you and idea of what MAY be done at this appointment.
http://www.umm.edu/parkinsons/diagnosis.htm
An exam will include:
- finger tapping speed...index finger to thumb
- open and close hand
- the doctor will check for rigidity (which is what is pictured in the pic on the website above)
- walking will be evaluated
the above is in part an evaluation so the Unified Parkinson's Diease Rating Scale (UPDRS) which is a scale used to evaluate the severity of PD
http://www.mdvu.org/library/ratingscales/pd/updrs.pdf
Questions would include:
I am surely missing something, but someone else will surely correct me or add to my list.
Good Luck!! I hope she gets a correct diagnosis and that it is something else, but if it is PD she is very welcome here.
Carolyn