dystonia
A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions causing repetitive or twisting movements and abnormal postures.
Full Definition
Dystonia encompasses a spectrum of movement disorders involving sustained or intermittent muscle contractions that produce abnormal, often repetitive movements or postures. The contractions may be painful and can affect any part of the body. Primary dystonia has no identifiable cause, while secondary dystonia results from brain injury, medications, or other neurological conditions. The disorder shows characteristic patterns such as task-specificity and sensory tricks that temporarily alleviate symptoms.
Usage
Usage note: Specify anatomical distribution (focal, segmental, generalized) and etiology when documenting.
In Context
- "Cervical dystonia caused painful neck spasms and abnormal head positioning." — Outpatient clinic note
- "The patient's focal hand dystonia was triggered specifically by writing tasks." — Movement disorder assessment