- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neural Tube Defects
- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Usher Syndrome
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Allergy
- Animal Bites
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Aplastic Anemia
- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Movement Disorders
Summary
Movement disorders are neurologic conditions that cause problems with movement, such as:
- Increased movement that can be voluntary (intentional) or involuntary (unintended)
- Decreased or slow voluntary movement
There are many different movement disorders. Some of the more common types include:
- Ataxia, the loss of muscle coordination
- Dystonia, in which involuntary contractions of your muscles cause twisting and repetitive movements. The movements can be painful.
- Huntington’s disease, an inherited disease that causes nerve cells in certain parts of the brain to waste away. This includes the nerve cells that help to control voluntary movement.
- Parkinson’s disease, which is disorder that slowly gets worse over time. It causes tremors, slowness of movement, and trouble walking.
- Tourette syndrome, a condition which causes people to make sudden twitches, movements, or sounds (tics)
- Tremor and essential tremor, which cause involuntary trembling or shaking movements. The movements may be in one or more parts of your body.
Causes of movement disorders include:
- Genetics
- Infections
- Medicines
- Damage to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves
- Metabolic disorders
- Stroke and vascular diseases
- Toxins
Treatment varies by disorder. Medicines can cure some disorders. Others get better when an underlying disease is treated. Often, however, there is no cure. In that case, the goal of treatment is to improve symptoms and relieve pain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Genetics
- Action myoclonus-renal failure syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- ADCY5-related dyskinesia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Angelman syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Christianson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Congenital mirror movement disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Essential tremor: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Familial paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Hypermanganesemia with dystonia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Mitochondrial membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Myoclonic epilepsy myopathy sensory ataxia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Myoclonus-dystonia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Perry syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- PRICKLE1-related progressive myoclonus epilepsy with ataxia: 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
- Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Spinocerebellar ataxia type 36: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Specifics
- Angelman Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Chorea National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor and Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Myoclonus National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Neuroacanthocytosis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Paroxysmal Choreoathetosis Disease National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Paroxysmal Dystonia & Dyskinesias Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
- Sydenham Chorea National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Tardive Dyskinesia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Patient Handouts
- Angelman syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Chronic motor tic disorder Medical Encyclopedia
- Facial tics Medical Encyclopedia
- Movement – uncontrollable Medical Encyclopedia
- Movement – uncontrolled or slow Medical Encyclopedia
- Movement – uncoordinated Medical Encyclopedia
- Movement – unpredictable or jerky Medical Encyclopedia
- Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) Medical Encyclopedia
- Tardive dyskinesia Medical Encyclopedia
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Ataxia National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Chorea National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Movement Disorders National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tardive Dyskinesia National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Torticollis National Institutes of Health
Encyclopedia
- Deep brain stimulation Medical Encyclopedia
- Palatal myoclonus Medical Encyclopedia
- Provisional tic disorder Medical Encyclopedia
- Sydenham chorea Medical Encyclopedia
Statistics and Research
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and other Movement Disorders National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Treatments and Therapies
- Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Related Issues
- Dressing with Ease, Style, and Comfort ALS Association
Diagnosis and Tests
- Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies National Library of Medicine
Children
- EMG (Electromyogram) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Tics, Tourette Syndrome, and OCD American Academy of Pediatrics
Find an Expert
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Start Here
- Overview of Movement Disorders Merck & Co., Inc.