| Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by sustained muscle contractions that often induce uncontrollable twisting or repetitive movements, and abnormal postures and positions. The disorder may affect the entire body or only a selected part of it, such as the eyes, neck, arms, or legs. Dystonia may also be associated with pain. It tends to consistently affect the same groups of muscles, thus producing rather predictable movements over time. Initially, dystonia tends to be precipitated by specific movements or tasks, though later it can be activated by sustained movements, and in advanced stages can be present at rest. Symptoms may arise as a result of dysfunction of the basal ganglia or thalamus, parts of the brain responsible for the modulation of movement. Because of the complexity of the condition, it may be misdiagnosed as other disorders, such as stress, stiff or "wry" neck, or a psychogenic disorder. In fact, dystonia is one of the most common movement disorders. According to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation: Dystonia is estimated to be six times more prevalent than Huntington's Disease, ALS, or Muscular Dystrophy . . . yet as few as five percent of the over 300,000 persons in North America estimated to be affected have been correctly diagnosed. | |
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