Dystonia

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Dystonia is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Torsion Dystonia

Disorder Subdivisions

• Generalized Dystonia
• Primary Dystonia
• Early-onset Dystonia
• Childhood-onset Dystonia
• Dopa-responsive Dystonia (DRD)
• Focal Dystonia
• Blepharospasm (Benign Essential Blepharospasm[BEB])
• Cervical Dystonia (Spasmodic Torticollis[ST])
• Oromandibular Dystonia
• Writer’s Cramp
• Paroxysmal Dystonia
• Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dystonia (PKD)
• Paroxysmal Dystonia Choreathetosis
• Spasmodic Torticollis (Cervical Dystonia)
• Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD)
• X-Linked Dystonia-parkinsonism
• Late-onset Dystonia
• Secondary Dystonia
• Tardive Dyskinesia
• Tardive Dystonia
• Myoclonic Dystonia
• Rapid-onset Dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP)
• Segmental Dystonia

General Discussion

Dystonia is a group of movement disorders that vary in their symptoms, causes, progression, and treatments. This group of neurological conditions is generally characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that force the body into abnormal, sometimes painful, movements and positions (postures).



Dystonia may be focal (affecting an isolated body part), segmental (affecting adjacent body areas, or generalized (affecting many major muscle groups simultaneously). There are many different causes for dystonia. Genetic as well as non-genetic factors contribute to all forms of dystonia. The most characteristic finding associated with dystonia is twisting, repetitive movements that affect the neck, torso, limbs, eyes, face, vocal chords, and/or a combination of these muscle groups.

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Resources

WE MOVE (Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders)

204 West 84th Street

New York, NY 10024

USA

Tel: 2128758312

Fax: 2128758389

Email: wemove@wemove.org

Internet: http://www.wemove.org



National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association

300 Park Boulevard

Suite 350

Itasca, IL 60143

Fax: (630)250-4505

Tel: (800)795-6732

Email: nsda@dysphonia.org

Internet: http://www.dysphonia.org



Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

1 East Wacker Drive

Suite 2810

Chicago, IL 60601-1905

United States

Tel: 3127550198

Fax: 3128030138

Tel: 8003773978

Email: dystonia@dystonia-foundation.org

Internet: http://www.dystonia-foundation.org



National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

31 Center Drive

8A07

Bethesda, MD 20892-2540

Tel: (301)496-5751

Fax: (301)402-2186

Tel: (800)352-9424

Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/



Dystonia Society

1st Floor Camelford House

89 Albert Embankment

London, Intl SE1 7TP

United Kingdom

Tel: 0845 458 6211

Fax: 0845 458 6311

Tel: 0845 458 6322

Email: info@dystonia.org.uk or support@dystonia.org.uk

Internet: http://www.dystonia.org.uk



Organization For Anti-Convulsant Syndrome

PO Box 772

Pilling

Preston, Intl PR3 6WW

UK

Tel: 01253 790000

Fax: 01253 790000

Email: Janet.oacs@btinternet.com

Internet: http://www.oacs-uk.co.uk/



MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: 9203365333

Fax: 9203390995

Tel: 8773365333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/



Spasmodic Torticollis Dystonia, Inc

PO Box 28

Mukwonago, WI 53149

Tel: (262)560-9534

Fax: (262)560-9535

Tel: (888)445-4588

Email: info@spasmodictorticollis.org

Internet: http://www.spasmodictorticollis.org



American Association of Neurological Surgeons

5550 Meadowbrook Drive

Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3852

Tel: (847)378-0500

Fax: (847)378-0600

Tel: (888)566-2267

Email: info@aans.org

Internet: http://www.NeurosurgeryToday.org and http://www.AANS.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  2/4/2008

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Last updated:	February 04, 2008