About Dystonia Disease

Dystonia is a sustained or intermittent muscle contraction that causes abnormal movements and/or postures. Dystonia may involve a single area of the body or a group of muscles. As per the American Dystonia Society, approximately 300,000 people in North America are diagnosed with this disease. Dystonia patients could have pain due to muscle spasms and cramping associated with this movement disorder. The most common dystonia that we see in India is hemifacial spasm, Writer’s cramp, focal dystonia, blepharospasm, cervical dystonia/ torticollis and oromandibular dystonia.

Sensory tricks are sometimes helpful for the dystonia patients. People with dystonia have several techniques which they learn with time, to improve the symptoms. These are called sensory tricks / coping tips. These ideas don’t work for everyone as what works varies between individuals but you may choose to give them a try.

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by sustained muscle contractions, usually producing twisting and repetitive movements, or abnormal postures and positions. Dystonia may occur as a primary condition, or it may be the result of environmental factors that affect the brain (designated secondary or symptomatic dystonia). The condition can sometimes be associated with certain nondegenerative, neurochemical disorders that are characterized by neurological features, such as Parkinsonism. Dystonia may also be a primary feature of certain, usually hereditary, neurodegenerative disorders. Focal dystonias are adult-onset forms that affects a specific area of the body. Most focal dystonias are primary (meaning that it is the only neurological symptom and presumed to have a genetic component), though secondary cases are documented. Focal dystonia may affect muscles of the eyes, mouth, vocal cords, neck, hands, and feet.