Dystonia Medical Research Foundation - What is Dystonia - How is Dystonia Diagnosed - Prognosis - Forms of Dystonia, Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary
Dystonias Fact Sheet at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS - what are the dystonias - Symptoms, classifications - treatment - research
Completed study used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to examine how the brain controls muscle movement in dystonia. Dystonia is a movement disorder in which involuntary muscle contractions cause uncontrolled twisting and repetitive movement or abnormal postures.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS study will use high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for subtle differences in brain anatomy between patients with focal hand dystonia (also called writer's cramp) and healthy normal volunteers. Patients with hand dystonia have prolonged muscle contractions that cause sustained twisting movements and abnormal postures. These abnormal movements often occur with activities such as writing, typing, playing certain musical instruments such as guitar or piano, or playing golf or darts.
Dystonia at Movement Disorder Virtual University Resource Library - Classifications of Dystonia - Causes- Treatment and Medications - Surgical Treatments - References
Study being conducted to identify specific motor signatures of different forms of dystonia. Study will examine abnormal co-activation in distal and proximal muscles to evaluate the characteristics of the loss of selectivity of the motor command in mobile vs. fixed dystonia. We will also study possible cognitive and limbic components of the disease, examining the influence of cognitive and emotional loads on movement production.
Study conducted and completed to determine if the calcium channel blockers, amlodipine can augment the effect of botulinum toxin injections in the treatment of focal dystonia.
A research team led by investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has identified and cloned the gene responsible for early-onset dystonia, a crippling, inherited neurological disorder that begins in childhood.
Stanford trial assessing use of Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TBS) as a new, non-invasive therapeutic intervention to aid in physical therapy and symptom amelioration of dystonia and spasticity
Effect of treatment on the movement disorder will be measured by a myoclonus scale and a dystonia scale as well as by assessment of overall functional status. Response at various dosages will be compared to baseline for all patients.Safety parameters including neurological examination, blood tests and EKG will be monitored throughout the treatment period and during withdrawal of the medication.
Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TBS) is a type of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) method that reduces the excitability of a small region of brain for less than one hour. Since dystonia and spasticity may be associated with increased excitability of motor cortex, we expect that by reducing the excitability of motor cortex with TBS we will temporarily improve these symptoms and hopefully open avenues in the future for the use of TBS as a new, non-invasive therapeutic intervention to aid in physical therapy and symptom amelioration of dystonia and spasticity.
Stanford University sponsored study of trihexyphenidyl in children with upper extremity dystonia due to cerebral palsy. It is hypothesized that trihexyphenidyl in doses up to 0.75mg/kg/day would be well-tolerated and show significant changes on the Melbourne scale of upper extremity function.
PubMed Abstract of study conducted to determine what biomechanic characteristics of knee joint motion and walking show potential to quantitatively differentiate spasticity and dystonia in Cerebral Palsy (CP).
E-MOVE, the research news service of WE MOVE, surveys current literature and delivers brief, timely synopses of developments in movement disorders. In addition, E-MOVE covers breaking news from major medical meetings, providing important updates on the causes and treatments of movement disorders.