Dystonia Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Dystonia Overview Dystonia is a neuromuscular condition characterized by abnormal abnormal posturing, turning or twisting movements of head, trunk, or limbs. Cause Exact cause is unknownDysfunction of basal gangliaGenetic factorsBrain injuries Risk factors Family historyStrokeBrain or nervous system injuryInfectionsCertain medications such as neurolepticsPoisoning (for e.g., lead)Involvement of precise hand movements, such as for musicians, artists, or engineers Symptoms Muscle spasms or crampsPostural deformitiesDifficulty in speaking, chewing, swallowing, walking, and writingAbnormal eye blinking/ contraction of faceBending of body Specialist to approach Neurologist Diagnosis ClinicalGenetic testingMRI Brain and PET scan for acquired and degenerative causes Dystonia types Based on the affected body partGeneralized dystonia (affects all or most body parts)Focal dystonia (affects one body part)- blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, oromandibular dystonia, truncal dystonia, and writer’s crampMultifocal dystonia (affects ≥2 unrelated body parts)Segmental dystonia (affects ≥2 adjacent body parts)Adult-onset dystonia is generally focal, whereas those beginning in childhood may become generalized.Based on the causeInherited- caused due to gene mutationAcquired- secondary to drug, brain injury, stroke, infection, metabolicIdiopathic- no clear causeBased on the symptomsDopa- responsive dystonia improves dramatically with dopamine supplementationMyoclonus dystoniaParoxysmal dystoniaTardive dystoniaFunctional dystonia Treatment Medications (anticholinergics, dopamine blockers)Botulinum toxin injections for focal dystoniaPhysical therapy and rehabilitationSurgery (deep brain stimulation)Lifestyle modification (stress management, regular exercises)