Dystonia

The Dystonia topic includes research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dystonia, a group of disorders that cause involuntary muscle contractions.

Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes muscles to move or tighten on their own, out of a person’s control. These unintentional movements can lead to slow, repeated motions or unusual body positions and can be uncomfortable.

There are several different types of dystonia. Some types affect only one muscle or body part, while other types affect groups of muscles or muscles throughout the body. In some cases, dystonia symptoms can be life-threatening.

Dystonia is caused by changes in how the brain tells the body to move. Dystonia can be classified in different ways, but it is often grouped by cause: idiopathic (doesn’t have a known cause), genetic, acquired (also called secondary dystonia), or neuroanatomical (abnormal or damaged tissue) dystonia.

Few treatments can stop dystonia or keep it from getting worse. Treatments such as botulinum toxin injections, medicines, surgery, and physical therapy can help manage specific dystonia symptoms.