Movement Disorders
What are movement disorders?
Movement disorders are a group of neurological conditions that cause irregular body movements, which can range from slow to excessive movements with many variants.
There are many conditions within the movement disorders spectrum, including:
- Ataxia
- Chorea
- Dystonia
- Essential tremor
- Huntington's disease
- Multiple system atrophy
- Myoclonus
- Parkinson's disease
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Restless leg syndrome
- Rett syndrome
- Spasticity
- Tourette syndrome
These are only some of the many different movement disorders, and some of these disorders have multiple subtypes as well.
What kind of symptoms do movement disorders cause?
Every movement disorder causes its own individual symptoms and issues, but some general signs to watch for include:
- Coordination difficulties
- Balance difficulties
- Difficulty walking
- Stiff or rigid limbs or trunk
- Repeated rapid movements
- Very slow movements
- Inability to move
- Motor tics
- Tremors
- Muscle weakness
- Swallowing problems
- Cognitive problems
- Behavioral changes
These are only some of the more common issues that occur with movement disorders.
You may have other symptoms, and in some cases, those symptoms may not initially seem like movement disorder issues. For example, multiple system atrophy can cause both movement symptoms and issues like low blood pressure or bladder issues.
What causes movement disorders?
Genetic conditions, traumatic injury, nervous system disease, infections, medication side effects, and other factors can all cause movement disorders.
The risk of developing a movement disorder increases as you age. Prior strokes, hypertension, and metabolic disorders like diabetes may all increase your risk of developing a movement disorder.
What does treatment for movement disorders involve?
Ventura Neuroscience Center uses a comprehensive integrative approach to movement disorder treatment. They incorporate all the latest neurological research and technology into treatment planning, which ensures that you get the care you need to manage symptoms and maximize your life quality.
Usually, the best treatment for movement disorders involves several approaches at once.
Some of the many treatment options for movement disorders can include prescription medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and innovative surgical procedures like deep brain stimulation. Lifestyle modifications can also make life much easier when you're living with a movement disorder.
While there aren't necessarily cures for some movement disorders, working with an experienced neurologist can restore your function to the maximum level.