Dystonia

Summary

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes involuntary contractions of your muscles. These contractions result in twisting and repetitive movements. Sometimes they are painful.

Dystonia can affect just one muscle, a group of muscles or all of your muscles. Symptoms can include tremors, voice problems or a dragging foot. Symptoms often start in childhood. They can also start in the late teens or early adulthood. Some cases worsen over time. Others are mild.

Some people inherit dystonia. Others have it because of another disease. Researchers think that dystonia may be due to a problem in the part of the brain that handles messages about muscle contractions. There is no cure. Doctors use medicines, Botox injections, surgery, physical therapy, and other treatments to reduce or eliminate muscle spasms and pain.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Patient Handouts

• Botulinum toxin injection – larynx Medical Encyclopedia
• Spasmodic dysphonia Medical Encyclopedia
• Torticollis Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Botulinum Toxin Injections: A Treatment for Muscle Spasms American Academy of Family Physicians

Specifics

• Cervical Dystonia (Spasmodic Torticollis) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Types of Dystonia Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dystonia National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Torticollis National Institutes of Health

Genetics

• Deafness-dystonia-optic neuronopathy syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Dystonia 16: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Dystonia 6: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Early-onset primary dystonia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Hypermanganesemia with dystonia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Myoclonus-dystonia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Sepiapterin reductase deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Task-specific focal dystonia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Start Here

• Dystonia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Find an Expert

• Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Living With

• Dystonia: Emotional and Mental Health Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
• Dystonia: Non-Drug Therapies Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

Related Issues

• Employees with Dystonia Office of Disability Employment Policy
• Traumatic Injury Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

Journal Articles

• Dystonia

Symptoms

• Symptoms and Classifications Dystonia Medical Research Foundation