We offer evaluation, treatment and care for the full spectrum of movement disorders.
Blepharospasm is a neurological condition which causes involuntary blinking and spasm of the eyelids. It can be a sign of another neurological disease or it can be isolated. Botulinum toxin injections are the most effective treatment for blepharospasm and this can be done through our clinic.
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Corticobasal degeneration is a progressive neurological condition caused by abnormal tau protein in the brain cells. It causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease such as rigidity, slowness of movement, tremor and imbalance. It can also cause cognitive impairment or dementia. It does not typically respond well to medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease, but there are ways to help manage symptoms such as providing supportive medications and therapies.
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Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes muscles to contract uncontrollably. It can cause the affected body part to twist involuntarily, which results in repetitive movements and abnormal postures. One muscle, a group of muscles, or the entire body can be affected. The movements can sometimes be painful, and some individuals may have a tremor or other neurological features.
There are three different types of dystonia:
- Primary dystonia
- Idiopathic dystonia that does not have a clear cause
- Genetic dystonias that appear to be inherited, symptoms vary widely between members of the same family, and some carriers of the altered gene may not develop dystonia
- Secondary dystonia results from environmental or other damage to the brain, from exposure to certain medications, or as a symptom of other diseases
Learn more:
- Cure Dystonia Now
- Dystonia Coalition
- Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
- Dystonias Fact Sheet - National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NIH NINDS)
- The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation, Inc.
Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder and it is estimated to affect up to 4% of people over the age of 60. The tremor occurs with actions, like writing, eating, drinking and typing, and can range from annoying to socially embarrassing to severely disabling. Currently, there is no known cause and limited effective treatment options. ET has potential overlaps, both in symptoms and risk factors, with other disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dystonia.
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Myoclonus is an abnormal neurological sign, not a disease. It is characterized by sudden, involuntary, abnormal jerking of muscles. It can be benign or associated with a variety of neurological diseases. Myoclonus can be treated with medications.
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Parkinsonism is a group of symptoms similar to those found in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism can be caused by Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular disease, certain medications, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal degeneration. All types of Parkinsonism are clinical diagnoses which means that they are diagnosed by history and physical exam. Treatment depends on the type of Parkinsonism diagnosed by the provider.
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition which causes abnormal sensations in the legs and sometimes arms resulting in an uncontrollable urge to move. Movement helps relieve the symptoms temporarily. Symptoms generally occur at night, but can occur during the day as well when trying to rest or relax.
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Tardive Dyskinesia is a neurological disease causing abnormal and involuntary movements. Most often, these movements are seen in the tongue, lips and face, but they can also occur in the arms, legs or torso. It is caused by taking certain medications for psychiatric or gastrointestinal disorders, usually for long periods of time.
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Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements (motor tics) and vocalizations (vocal tics). Tics are usually associated with a sensation or urge to perform the tic (premonitory sensation) followed by a sense of relief afterwards. They are a symptom of neurodevelopmental disorders which begin in childhood. Tourette syndrome is a tic disorder characterized by having a combination of two motor tics and one vocal tic for one year or more. Education, environmental adaptations and medications can help manage symptoms.
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Wilson’s disease is a rare genetic disorder causing abnormal accumulation of copper in the liver, brain and other organs. Symptoms can include fatigue, yellowing of the skin, abdominal pain, abnormal movements, depression and anxiety. It is diagnosed with laboratory tests and treated with chelation, medications and diet changes.
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Writers and Musicians Cramp is a type of focal dystonia causing abnormal and involuntary contractions of hand muscles when performing specific activities such as writing or playing a musical instrument. It can be treated with exercises, adaptive techniques, botulinum toxin injections or medications.
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