A range of neurological (nervous system) illnesses that either result in enhanced movement or reduced or delayed movement are collectively referred to as movement disorders. These motions could be voluntary or unconscious.
The following are typical forms of movement disorders:
Millions of people suffer from movement disorders. The conditions we see and treat most frequently are as follows:
Ataxia:- The region of the brain that regulates coordinated movement is impacted by this movement condition. Other symptoms of ataxia include uncoordinated or sloppy balance, speech, or limb motions. Ataxia can be brought on by various factors, including hereditary and degenerative conditions. Another ailment that can be treated, such as an infection, can also produce ataxia.
Cervical dystonia:- Cervical dystonia causes the neck muscles to uncontrollably contract, pulling the head to one side or tilting it forward or backward. Shaking might occur.
Chorea:- Repetitive, quick, erratically timed, sluggish, involuntary motions are symptoms of chorea. Usually, the face, mouth, trunk, and limbs are involved in the movements. As excessive fidgeting, chorea can appear.
Dystonia:- The repetitive, twisting movements associated with this illness are sustained involuntary muscle contractions. The whole body or a single body part may be impacted by dystonia.
Functional movement disorder:- Any movement problem could be a symptom of this illness. Functional movement disorder is a curable condition not brought on by a neurological condition.
Huntington’s disease:- Genetic tests prove this is an inherited, progressive condition. There are three aspects to Huntington’s disease: erratic mobility, cognitive issues, and psychological symptoms.
Multiple system atrophy:- This unusual neurological condition worsens with time and affects numerous brain systems. An ataxic or parkinsonian movement disorder is brought on by multiple system atrophy. In addition, it may result in playing out dreams, low blood pressure, and poor bladder function.
Myoclonus:- Lightning-fast muscular jerks are a symptom of this illness.
Parkinson’s disease:- This disorder results in tremors, muscle stiffness, slow or reduced movement, or imbalance. Additionally, it could result in symptoms that have nothing to do with movement, like a diminished sense of smell, constipation, acting out dreams, and a reduction in cognitive function.
Parkinsonism:- Parkinsonism is the term used to describe slowness of movement, stiffness, tremor, or loss of balance. There are numerous causes. The most frequent causes include Parkinson’s disease and a few drugs that block dopamine. Degenerative conditions including progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy are other causes. Parkinsonism may also result from a stroke or repeated head trauma.
Progressive supranuclear palsy:- This is an uncommon neurological condition that affects walking, balance, and eye movements. Even though it occasionally may resemble Parkinson’s disease, it is a separate disorder.
Restless legs syndrome:- When relaxing or lying down, this movement problem creates uncomfortable leg sensations that are frequently eased by movement.
Tardive dyskinesia:- Long-term usage of specific medications known as neuroleptic medicines, which are used to treat psychiatric problems, results in this neurological illness. Repetitive and unconscious motions like grimacing, eye blinking, and others are brought on by tardive dyskinesia.
Tourette syndrome:- This neurological disorder manifests as repeated movements and vocal noises between the ages of childhood and adolescence.
Tremor:- The hands, head, or other body parts shake rhythmically as a result of this movement disease. Essential tremor is the most prevalent variety.
Wilson’s disease:- This rare, genetic illness causes the body to accumulate excessive levels of copper, which can lead to neurological issues like dystonia, tremor, parkinsonism, or ataxia.
Movement Disorders Treatment
Treatment for movement disorders aims to reduce symptoms and relieve pain because, in many cases, they cannot be cured. Some are severe and progress, affecting your speech and movement. While the underlying cause of your problem will determine the best course of treatment for movement disorders, your doctor may recommend the following:
- Medication treatments to manage your symptoms
- To maintain or improve your ability to control your emotions, try some physical or occupational therapy.
- Injections of botulinum toxin to lessen the frequency of muscular spasms
- Deep brain stimulation is a medical procedure that stimulates your brain’s motor control centers via an implant.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain illness associated with aging that results in the breakdown of certain brain tissue. The main symptoms are delayed movements, tremors, balance issues, and others. The majority of instances are caused by unknown factors, but some are hereditary. Although there is no known cure for the illness, there are numerous available treatments.
Who does it affect?
Parkinson’s disease often begins at the age of 60, and its likelihood of occurrence rises with aging. Men or those who were designated as male at birth (DMAB) are slightly more likely to have it than women or those who were identified as female at birth (DFAB).
Even though Parkinson’s disease typically affects older people, it can also affect adults as young as 20. (though this is extremely rare, and often people have a parent, full sibling, or child with the same condition).
How is it identified?
Parkinson’s disease is primarily diagnosed clinically, which means a doctor will most likely look at your symptoms, ask you questions, and look over your medical history. It is feasible to perform some diagnostic and lab tests, but these are typically required to rule out other disorders or particular causes. However, unless your Parkinson’s disease treatment isn’t working, which may be an indication of another ailment, most lab tests aren’t required.
Is there a cure and how is it treated?
Parkinson’s disease cannot currently be cured, however, there are several treatments to treat its symptoms. Depending on each individual’s unique symptoms and how well various treatments work, the treatments can also differ from person to person. The main treatment for this illness is medication.
Implanting a device that delivers a gentle electrical current to a portion of your brain through surgery is a supplementary therapy option (this is known as deep brain stimulation). There are also a few experimental possibilities, like stem cell-based therapies, but their accessibility varies a lot and many are not accessible to persons with Parkinson’s disease.
What drugs and therapies are applied?
Direct therapies and symptom treatments are the two types of medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Direct therapies go after Parkinson’s disease itself. Treatments for symptoms only address some disease effects.
How quickly will I feel better following treatment? How long will it take me to recover?
The type of therapies used, the degree of the condition, and other factors all have a significant impact on how long it takes to recover and experience the effects of Parkinson’s disease therapy. The best person to give you further information about what to anticipate from treatment is your healthcare physician. They can take into account any particular elements that might alter your experiences when providing you with information.
Even though Parkinson’s disease normally develops gradually, a person’s daily activities eventually could be impacted. Working, maintaining a home, and taking part in social activities with friends can all become difficult. Although going through these transitions can be challenging, support groups can help people adjust. For people with Parkinson’s disease, their families, and caregivers, these groups can offer information, suggestions, and links to resources. Rukmini Healthcare can help people with treatment.