Non-Specific Movement Disorder

According to the Mayo Clinic, non-specific movement disorders are a type of disorder that affects a patient's ability to control their body movements and their ability to produce body movements. The Mayo Clinic states that there are millions of Americans living with non-specific movement disorders. These conditions are not curable, but most can be managed so that most patients can live a relatively normal life.

Causes

• According to Neurology Channel, non-specific movement disorders are caused by disease or damage at the base of the brain. When this area of the brain is damaged or diseased, its nerve cells send signals telling the body to have involuntary movements. Neurology Channel states that several things can cause this type of disorder including age-related changes, stroke, environmental toxins, Parkinson's disease, certain genetic disorders, certain metabolic disorders and certain medications.

Symptoms

• All movement disorders produce their own set of symptoms; however, they all have certain symptoms in common. These symptoms will vary in frequency and intensity from individual to individual. According to Neurology Channel, the most common symptoms of non-specific movement disorders include uncontrollable blinking, sighing, throat clearing, shoulder shrugging, grunting and facial twitching.

Most Common Movement Disorders

• There are several different types of non-specific movement disorders. They have their differences, but are very similar in how they affect patients. According to Neurology Channel, the most common non-specific movement disorders include ataxia (absence of coordination), Wilson's disease (inherited condition that causes liver disease and psychiatric and neurological symptoms), Tourette's syndrome (involuntary speaking and tics), Parkinson's disease (leads to neurological decline), tremors (uncontrollable shaking), restless leg syndrome (inability to keep legs relaxed), progressive supranuclear palsy (affects purposeful movement), tics (muscles contract involuntarily), myoclonus (irregular, brief, rapid movement), Huntington's disease (progressive neurological decline), dystonia (prolonged muscle contraction and involuntary movement) and multiple-system atrophies (wasting away of systems).

Diagnosis

• According to the Mayo Clinic, many patients are diagnosed with a non-specific movement disorder after their doctor does a thorough physical exam and discusses their symptoms and medical history. The patient may also have to have blood or urine analysis to rule out other medical conditions. Doctors may also request neurophysiological studies and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

• There is no cure for non-specific movement disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common treatments include deep brain stimulation and Botox injections. The Botox injections are used to alleviate muscle spasms and contractions, and pain. Deep-brain stimulation is a type of surgery that can be used to treat certain types of tremors, such as essential tremors that are not controlled by medication and are significantly disabling.