What happens to your muscles if you have dystonia?
Dystonia is a disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause slow repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The movements may be painful, and some individuals with dystonia may have a tremor or other neurological symptoms.
What muscles are affected by dystonia?
Cranial dystonia affects the head, face, and neck muscles. Oromandibular dystonia causes spasms of the jaw, lips, and tongue muscles. This dystonia can cause problems with speech and swallowing. Spasmodic dystonia affects the throat muscles that are responsible for speech.
Is dystonia a chronic neurological condition?
About dystonia Movements are often repetitive and cause unusual, awkward and sometimes painful postures. Tremor (shaking) can also be a characteristic of some types of dystonia. Dystonia is thought to be a neurological condition (caused by underlying problems with the brain and nervous system).
Is dystonia a progressive disease?
Dystonia tends to be progressive and can become generalized or multifocal. Individuals with a combination of dystonia and Parkinsonism can develop severe, life-threatening complications. The mean age of onset of X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism is 39 years of age. This disorder is caused by mutations in the TAF1 gene.
Does dystonia turn into Parkinson’s?
Dystonia can be a symptom of Parkinson’s and some other diseases and is a movement disorder on its own. Painful, prolonged muscle contractions cause abnormal movements and postures, such as a foot turning inward or the head tilting sideways.
What is muscle dystonia?
Description of Muscle dystonia. Muscle dystonia: Abnormal involuntary movements which primarily affect the extremities, trunk, or jaw that occur as a manifestation of an underlying disease process.
What are the causes of dystonia?
The causes of dystonia are not fully known, but it is currently thought that the condition results from a malfunction in a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia are structures situated deep in the brain. They help to regulate voluntary and involuntary movement by controlling muscle contractions in the body.
Can dystonia be cured?
There is no cure for cervical dystonia. The disorder sometimes resolves without treatment, but sustained remissions are uncommon. Injecting botulinum toxin into the affected muscles often reduces the signs and symptoms of cervical dystonia .
How rare is dystonia?
It is a rare disorder, occurring in roughly one to four people per 100,000 people. The first signs of spasmodic dysphonia are found most often in people between 30 and 50 years of age. It affects women more than men.