Dystonia belongs to a group of neurological diseases called movement disorders, among which are also Parkinson’s disease, tics and chorea. It is characterized by involuntary contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles simultaneously, which can be sustained or spasmodic, causing in the subject anomalous postures of one or multiple regions of the body.
It is estimated that dystonia is the third most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s and tremor and the third type of movement disorder in childhood, behind spasticity and tics.
Some population groups seem especially sensitive to have dystonia, as is the case of musicians, some studies suggest that 10% of these professionals suffer, or golfers 35% of these athletes see their career limited by this problem.
The causal criterion can be classified into two main groups:
Primary or idiopathic: hereditary or sporadic cases not secondary to other diseases or known causative agent.
Secondary: there is a disease or agent previous example some drugs that produces dystonia.
Symptoms of dystonia can appear from cramps in joints such as feet, or the gesture of dragging or lifting a foot after traveling a certain distance. Between the mentioned contractions, involuntary movements of the neck may occur, especially when the affected person feels tired, and there may be complications when speaking. From difficulty writing to inability to walk and the underlying cause. All have in common excessive muscle contraction and if it affects the extremities or trunk, the adoption of abnormal and sustained positions. Occasionally, muscular contractions are accompanied by tremor, rhythmic and oscillating movement.
The treatment of dystonias is symptomatic, and is based on pharmacological or surgical therapy, providing benefit in the majority of cases.
There is no known prevention for dystonia. The careful use of neuroleptic drugs or anti-nausea antidopaminergic drugs, antipsychotics, and antivertiginous drugs among others should be highlighted as the most important measure to reduce the incidence of secondary dystonia.
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