WHAT ARE
MOVEMENT DISORDERS?
WHAT ARE
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
Movement disorders are neurologic conditions that cause abnormal increased movements that can either be voluntary (intentional) or involuntary (unintended). The most common movement disorders are Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia.
WHAT CAUSES
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
Different types of movement disorders can develop, depending on the nature and location of the damage or malfunction.
Examples include:
- Damage to the parts of the brain that control voluntary (intended) movement or the connections between the brain and spinal cord can cause: Weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in voluntary movements and exaggerated reflexes
- Damage to the basal ganglia (collections of nerve cells located at the base of the cerebrum, deep within the brain) can cause: Involuntary (unintended) or decreased movements, but not weakness or changes in reflexes
- Damage to the cerebellum can cause: Loss of coordination
It’s important to note, the basal ganglia help initiate and smooth out voluntary muscle movements, suppress involuntary movements, and coordinate changes in posture. And the cerebellum coordinates the body’s movements, helps the limbs move smoothly and accurately, and helps maintain balance.
Some movement disorders, such as hiccups, are temporary and usually cause little inconvenience. Others, such as Parkinson disease, are serious and progressive, and can impair your ability to speak, use your hands, walk, and maintain balance when standing.
WHAT TYPES OF MOVEMENT DISORDERS
ARE MOST COMMON?
1
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that causes four main motor symptoms – tremor, rigidity, slowness/absence of movement (bradykinesia/akinesia) and impaired balance and mobility. Other motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms can also occur.
In Parkinson’s disease, certain nerve cells within the brain gradually stop functioning properly.
This results in the levels of dopamine, an important chemical that allows communication between the brain cells that control movement and coordination of the body, to decrease which causes new symptoms begin to appear. Severity of symptoms and rate of progression vary for each patient.
2
ESSENTIAL TREMOR
Essential tremor is a neurological condition that causes your hands to shake rhythmically and involuntarily. The head, trunk and voice might also be involved, but hand shaking is most prominent. The cause is not known, but it is often passed down from a parent to a child. In fact, if you have a parent who has essential tremor, you are 50% more likely to develop the disorder.
Essential tremor can make daily tasks such as writing, eating, drinking and talking difficult.
3
DYSTONIA
Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes excessive, involuntary muscle contractions. A body part can become flexed or twisted in an abnormal position, and the movements are typically patterned and repetitive.
Dystonia can affect the eyelids, face, jaw, neck, vocal cords, torso, limbs, hands, and feet.
Unfortunately, these movements and posture may be painful. Dystonic symptoms may worsen or occur with specific tasks. Also, attempting a movement task on one side of the body may activate dystonia symptoms on the opposite side.