Although you may not have heard a lot about movement disorders, it’s possible you’ve had one in the past and didn’t know it. In fact, it’s been documented that over 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with a movement disorder, so this medical issue is far more prevalent than most think.
A very common movement disorder is restless legs syndrome when you’re trying to sleep. It causes a crawling or throbbing sensation in your legs, creating the urge to move them. This type of movement disorder typically goes away without any medication or treatment. Other movement disorders can be far more serious and difficult to treat.
Types of movement disorders
Movement disorders can be caused by a neurological disease, but they also can be the result of a vitamin deficiency, drug and alcohol abuse, an injury, or a side effect of prescribed medication. Movement disorders may decrease your ability to move easily and stiffen your joints and muscles, or you may have increased movements in parts of your body, such as a tremor. Some of these disorders include:
- Ataxia: Clumsy movements of the arms and legs affecting balance. Speech may also be affected. There are many causes of ataxia, from genetics to a treatable infection.
- Chorea: Consistent, rapid, involuntary movements. Huntington’s disease is the most common genetic chorea, passed from parent to child.
- Dystonia: Involuntary twisting, movements or irregular postures in the entire body or one part of your body. The most common is cervical dystonia which affects the neck muscles.
- Functional movement disorder: Involuntary body movements or positions caused by a disease of the nervous system and is treatable.
- Periodic limb movement disorder: Repetitive arm and leg movements during sleep, disrupting your rest. Usually occurs alongside restless legs syndrome. Also called myoclonus.
- Progressive supranuclear palsy: A rare condition that affects walking, balance and eye movements.
- Tardive dyskinesia: Face grimacing, eye blinking, and other involuntary consistent movements of the body caused by long-term use of certain medications used to treat mental illnesses.
- Tourette syndrome: Repetitive movements and vocal sounds called tics caused by a neurological condition that starts between childhood and teenage years.
- Tremor: Uncontrollable rhythmic shaking in parts of your body, with the most common type being essential tremor.
- Parkinson’s disease: A brain disorder that causes muscle stiffness, tremors, slow/decreased movement or loss of balance. This disease progresses over time.
- Parkinsonism: General term for slowness of movement and has many different causes, such as Parkinson’s disease and certain dopamine-blocking medications.
Signs you may have a movement disorder
Symptoms of a movement disorder may include:
- New issues with coordination and clumsiness
- Speech difficulties
- Facial grimacing
- Excessive blinking of the eyes
- Shaking
- Jerky movements in parts of your body or with your entire body
- Inability to complete cognitive problems, such as sequence of tasks
- Difficulty walking/moving around normally
- Fidgeting excessively
- Pulling of head to one side
- Emotional changes
If you suspect you may have a movement disorder, make an appointment with your primary care provider who will begin with a physical exam and review your symptoms and your medical history with you.
The next step will involve testing, such as blood, genetic and imaging tests to make a diagnosis. If you’re diagnosed with a movement disorder, you may be referred to a neurologist at MercyOne for further testing.
Treatments for movement disorders
Treatment options may include:
- Avoiding things that may make your movement disorder worse, such as caffeine.
- Taking medicine every day to better control body movements.
- Using adaptive devices to help control tremors or make it easier to perform everyday tasks, like using a spoon or fork.
- Injecting botulinum toxin to help muscles relax and stop moving abnormally.
- Implanting a device surgically in the brain that can help control body movements.
- There are also other options that do not involve a device.
Treatment for your movement disorder may range from prescribed medication to physical, occupational and speech therapy that can help control the symptoms. Self-care is also necessary when you are diagnosed with a movement disorder. It's important to get support, perhaps from people going through the same thing, so you don’t feel alone. Additionally, staying active, eating healthy and creating a safe environment in your home are good ways to take care of yourself.
This blog was medically reviewed by a MercyOne provider.
