Dystonia, an overview; classification, etiology and treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Dystonia is a neurological condition which leads to involuntary muscle contractions and is little known among physiotherapists and doctors. Main part: Dystonia can affect people of all ages and can be caused by various brain diseases, various hereditary factors or unknown factors. Dystonia is a medical term both used as a symptom and a disease group. Dystonia can be a single symptom, isolated dystonia, or together with other neurological symptoms and is then called combined dystonia. The largest group of dystonia is isolated dystonia which often affects the neck muscles with involuntary, spasm-like movements and gives troublesome twisting movements of the neck. Many patients with dystonia get a wrong diagnosis such as; «crick in the neck» or muscle tension and many go undiagnosed and untreated. Summary: It is important to recognize dystonia, because then the patients can receive proper treatment, both in terms of Botulinum toxin treatment and physiotherapy. With proper treatment, patients can return to work, have significantly less pain and a better functioning.

Keywords

• Dystonia
• physiotherapy
• botulinum toxins