Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the treatment options for dystonia. Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes abnormal movements. It can be classified in multiple ways like body parts (cervical or hand), action (task-induced or specific), and muscle movement (sustained or intermittent). The most common is cervical dystonia, which causes one’s neck to be twisted/tilted or be moving constantly. This can cause severe distress, pain, and not trusting one’s ability to control walking. The obvious signs are the motor problems, but there can be many underlying issues like previous head injuries/trauma, post-traumatic stress, vision abnormalities, vestibular problems, and anxiety and depression. For this reason, treatment needs to be individualized to address these in a holistic approach. There is not just one treatment option that is best for dystonia. Check out the video for more in depth information regarding the web of dysfunction underlying dystonia!
- Bradnam LV, Meiring RM, Boyce M, McCambridge A. Neurorehabilitation in dystonia: a holistic perspective. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2021;128(4):549-558.
