Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. The neurological mechanism that makes muscles relax when they are not in use does not function properly. Opposing muscles often contract simultaneously as if they are ‘competing’ for control of a body part. The involuntary muscle contractions force the body into repetitive and often twisting movements as well as awkward, irregular postures. There are approximately 13 forms of dystonia, and dozens of diseases and conditions include dystonia as a major symptom.
Forms of Dystonia:
- Cervical Dystonia
- Blepharospasm
- Writer’s Cramp
- Oromandibular Dystonia
- Spasmodic Dystonia
- Meige’s Syndrome
- Hemidystonia
- Generalised Dystonia
- Dopa-Responsive Dystonia (DRD)
- Myoclonic Dystonia
- Rapid-onset Dystonia-Parkinsonism (RDP)
- Paroxysmal Dystonia and Dyskinesias (PDD)
- X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (Lubag)
For more information about Dystonia please go to http://www.dystonia-foundation.org