Comprehensive Guide
What are movement disorders? What are the most prominent symptoms? How is it diagnosed and treated? The answers are in this article.
Learn the most important details about movement disorders in the following article
Movement disorders
Movement disorders are one of the disorders of the nervous system resulting from neurological conditions that cause problems in movement, such as: increased movement that is voluntary or involuntary, or decreased movement, and this is due to a number of different factors and causes, the most prominent of which are the following:
Genetic factors due to a genetic mutation.
Autoimmune diseases.
Nervous system injury, such as: damage to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves.
The effect of drugs on the nervous system.
Metabolic disorder.
Infections and infections.
Types of movement disorders
There are many movement disorders, as they differ among themselves in cause and are similar in symptoms. The following are the most common types of movement disorders:
1. Ataxia
Also called ataxia or ataxia is a degenerative disorder that affects a part of the brain, which is the cerebellum responsible for coordinating muscle movement, as this disorder appears in the inability to control muscles, and inconsistency during voluntary movement of the limbs, such as: unbalanced or jerky walking, and there may appear difficulties in speech, swallowing and eye movement as well.
2. Huntington''s Disease
Huntington''s disease is a rare genetic disorder that results from the gradual breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, causing the inability to control the movement of the limbs and face, the gradual loss of mental and cognitive abilities, and the development of mental disorders.
3. Dystonia
It is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by involuntary muscle spasms in the form of continuous, involuntary contractions of muscles with a twisting and repetitive movement that may be painful. This disorder may affect the whole body or a part of the body.
4. Parkinson''s Disease
This disorder directly affects the nervous system as it develops very slowly and causes tremors and stiffness with slow and unbalanced movement with difficulty speaking, and the condition worsens with time.
5. Essential Tremor
Essential tremor is a movement disorder that is characterized by involuntary and regular tremors in different parts of the body, often in the hands, when performing very simple tasks.
6. Tardive dyskinesia
This neurological disorder occurs as a result of long-term use of medications, especially those used to treat psychological conditions, as it causes involuntary and repetitive movements such as eye blinking.
7. Wilson Disease
Wilson''s disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by a buildup of copper in the body, resulting in loss of motor control, muscle spasms, and difficulty speaking and swallowing.
Symptoms of movement disorders
The symptoms of movement disorders are somewhat similar to each other, and the most prominent of these symptoms and signs are:
Stiffness and spasm of limbs and trunk.
slow motion.
Tremors or a slow, jerky movement in one or more parts of the body.
Muscle tightening or contraction.
Difficulties in swallowing and speaking.
Cognitive and behavioral problems.
Instant loss of ability to move.
Psychiatric symptoms associated with the development of severe movement disorders.
Diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders
For the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders
Diagnosis of movement disorders
In diagnosing this type of disorder, the doctor relies on a number of tests, including the following:
1. Physical examination
It is the first examination carried out by the doctor, as he looks at the patient''s general condition with neurological evaluation by checking motor skills and reactions with studying the way and the patient''s ability to walk.
2. Laboratory tests and planning of body systems
After the physical examination, the doctor will order a set of tests to check for movement disorders, including the following:
Blood tests.
Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (lumbar puncture).
A muscle biopsy to distinguish between muscular and neurological disorders.
Electroencephalography and heart.
Electromyography to measure electrical impulses in nerves and muscle tissue.
3. Radiological examinations
The doctor relies on this type of examination to detect the health of the brain and blood vessels, as movement disorders are similar to strokes and heart attacks, and this type of examination is the separator between them. Including the following:
MRI.
Magnetic resonance angiography.
Computed tomography.
Positron emission tomography.
Movement disorders treatment
Treatment of movement disorders depends on the type of disorder and its main cause, as treatment focuses on controlling muscle movement, such as: spasticity, tremor, and slowing the progression of the disease.
The treatment plan may be in the form of medications, injections, physical and occupational therapy, or surgery.
