Dystonia Movement Disorder - Know The Facts

By Author: Shourya Ray Chaudhuri
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Dystonia is a movement disorder, which can show symptoms ranging from mild to severe. It may be considered akin to Parkinson's disease and can affect persons of any age. Dystonia may start with an innocent twitching of the eyelid and bloom rapidly to a full-fledged abnormal and uncontrolled movement of the upper-torso!

Dystonia can be of three types- Mesolimbic, Basal Ganglionic and Dystonia from the cerebellum. However, all these have the same origin- the brain or the brainstem.

Presentation of dystonia may be varied. Classically, dystonia is defined as a movement disorder, which can affect any part of the body. The abnormal movement can be focal, such as twitching of an eyelid, or global, which could include the arm and hand, a leg, or even the entire upper torso. A dystonic movement disorder can also include abnormal muscle tone, twitching, or an unusual angulation of a joint. There are certain characteristic movement patterns that are specific and diagnostic to certain regions of the brain. Depending on the area of the brain involved with the tremor, different symptoms may be apparent.

Historically, ...
... treatment for dystonia has been surgery, drug therapy and/or botulinum toxin A injections into the affected muscle. Botulin toxin paralyzes the muscle tissue temporarily. It does not fix the original cause of the dystonia. At best, the effectiveness of the botulinum toxin A is three to four months. At this time, the body develops an auto-immune response to treatments, therefore the effectiveness of the injections is diminished. And until recently, this was the only effective treatment.

The latest research suggests lack of activation can affect the brain's ability to process information. Therefore, abnormal signals are misinterpreted by brain cells, therefore messages can get jumbled. Fortunately, non-pharmaceutically based treatments are now available and are effective for lasting long-term results. Some of the treatments could include auditory or visual stimulation, calorics (warm or cold water in the ear), eye exercises, visual imagery, or spin therapy.

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder affecting more than 300,000 people in North America alone. It is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which force certain parts of the body into abnormal, sometimes painful, movements or postures. This typically manifests as a no-no tremor, (oscillation of the head side to side, as if nodding no repetitively).

Dystonia can affect any part of the body including the arms and legs, trunk, neck, eyelids, face, or vocal cords. Because muscle contractions interfere with normal function, dystonia causes impairment such as incoordination and problems with balance, (and thus increased risk of fall). As such, those afflicted with the disorder often find themselves unable to perform many of the things they did prior to its inception.

Shourya Ray Chaudhuri, Ezine Articles Expert Author.For more information: Dystonia Treatment & Cure
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