Focused Treatment for Real Results
Dystonia is the third most common
movement disorder, characterized
by muscles contracting excessively and involuntarily. It is not a
neurodegenerative disorder like Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease.
However, like those conditions, dystonia arises from the same circuitry and
region in the brain.
People with dystonia experience
abnormal posture, in which part or all of the body might be bent in a contorted
position, restricting movements. The muscle contractions can be painful, and
some patients might also have a tremor or incoordination.
The five main types of dystonia
are classified by the part of the body they affect:
- Generalized dystonia affects most
or all of the body and frequently involves the back and trunk.
- Focal dystonia is localized
to a specific part of the body, such as the hand or eyes. Cervical dystonia,
blepharospasm (involuntary muscle spasms and contractions of the muscles around
the eyes), laryngeal dystonia, and writer's cramp are all examples of focal
dystonia.
- Multifocal dystonia affects two
or more regions of the body that are not connected to each other, such as the
left arm and left leg.
- Segmental dystonia affects two
or more adjacent parts of the body. Cranial dystonia (involuntary contractions
of the muscles of the jaw and tongue) and blepharospasm are two examples of
segmental dystonia.
- Hemidystonia affects one
entire side of the body.
Dystonia can also be classified
according to age at onset:
- Early-onset generalized dystonia
involves patients who develop symptoms prior to age 30. It’s characterized by
twisted limbs. The younger the patient is at onset, the higher the likelihood
that the dystonia will spread to other areas.
- Adult-onset dystonia symptoms
typically appear in patients between 40 and 60 years of age. In most cases,
symptoms start in the upper body and generally don’t spread.
Our Services for Dystonia
The Movement Disorders team at UT
Southwestern includes physicians who have advanced training in movement
disorders and the management of dystonia. We treat a large number of patients
with dystonia, and that experience translates into better care for our patients.
Because dystonia has many
different symptoms, it’s often misdiagnosed. We base a dystonia diagnosis on a
clinical evaluation, medical history, blood or urine test, and/or brain MRI. Learn how we
evaluate patients for dystonia.
There is no standard treatment
for dystonia. Instead, each patient’s treatment options are based on his or her
symptoms. Treatments might include:
- Deep brain
stimulation
- Injections
of a botulinum toxin (for example, Botox®)
- Muscle
relaxant medication
- Occupational,
speech, and physical therapy
- Surgery
Learn more about these treatments.
Clinical Research
UT Southwestern is at the
forefront of new and emerging clinical research on dystonia, including collaborations
that aim to advance and provide new treatment options for people with this
disorder.