Focal Dystonia -
What is it?
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The word dystonia comes from the Latin prefix “dys-,” (bad or faulty) and the Greek word “-tonos,” which refers to tension. After essential tremors and Parkinson’s disease, dystonia is the third most common neurological movement disorder in the world today.
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Dystonia is caused by dysfunction in areas of the brain responsible for controlling movement including the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Muscle coordination is affected resulting in muscular co-contractions and spasms. Different types of dystonia affect different parts of the body. Some have identifiable genetic causes, while others do not. In its generalized form, dystonia is a disabling medical condition that affects the whole body. Other forms only affect one half of the body (hemi-dystonia) or connected parts of the body such as a whole leg (segmental dystonia). Focal dystonias that can affect musicians, are milder forms of the condition that affect only one muscle group.
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It is believed that in individuals with focal dystonia, there is an imbalance in the activity of certain neurotransmitters in certain brain areas, which leads to abnormal muscle contractions and postures. Research suggests that this imbalance is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as repetitive strain injuries or certain medical conditions that affect these brain areas.
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It is important to note that the specific mechanism that causes focal dystonia is not well understood yet and ongoing research is still trying to understand it. There might be different factors that cause it in different individuals or different subtypes of the disorder that might have different pathologies.
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Focal dystonia is very much at the opposite end of the dystonic spectrum from the more severe, generalised forms of the condition. It develops within only one muscle group, causes no pain, and does not usually progress to other areas of the body. It affects the fine motor control associated with carrying out activities that involve controlled, repetitive movements of the hand or face, such as playing golf (the yips), or when writing (writer’s cramp). It is often classed as a “task-specific” form of dystonia (only affecting one particular activity) although some people may also experience symptoms when doing other intricate tasks such as typing or fastening buttons on a shirt.