Movement Disorders

Movement disorder is the condition that affects a person's nervous system that causes abnormal increased movements, which may be voluntary or involuntary. These disorders can also cause reduced or slow movements.

Common types of movement disorders are:

• Ataxia
• Cervical dystonia
• Chorea
• Dystonia
• Functional movement disorder
• Huntington's disease
• Multiple system atrophy
• Myoclonus
• Parkinson's disease
• Parkinsonism
• Progressive supranuclear palsy
• Restless legs syndrome
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Tourette syndrome
• Tremor
• Wilson's disease

Signs and symptoms of movement disorders include problems with

• Physical coordination
• Trouble walking
• Episodes of uncontrolled movements (such as during a seizure)
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle spasm

Some movement disorders are genetic, such as Huntington's disease. These disorders can be inherited from a parent through an abnormal gene- a gene mutation. Other types of disorders occur for no known reason.

Researchers believe that movement disorders may be the result of

• autoimmune diseases
• nervous system injury
• Certain medications- some medications may affect the nervous system and cause similar symptoms of movement disorder. By changing the medicine or its dosage may reverse these symptoms.

As we all know that stress can cause an elevation in blood pressure, palpitations, and tremors. Stress can similarly manifest as disorders of movement. Anxiety-induced stress can also trigger involuntary muscle movement and involuntary muscle movement can also trigger anxiety.

Movement disorders cannot be cured, the treatment is given to minimize the symptoms and relieve pain. Some disorders are severe and progressive, impairing your ability to move and speak. The treatment for movement disorders will depend on the underlying cause of your conditions.

The doctor may suggest:

• Medications
• Physical therapy to help maintain or restore your ability to control your movements.
• Botulinum toxin injections to help prevent muscle contractions
• Surgery is a possible treatment for some disorders- Deep brain stimulation, a surgical treatment option that uses an implant to stimulate the areas of the brain that controls movement.

As no two movement disorders are the same, the doctor will develop a customized treatment plan for you.