Dynamic Systems Theory
An alternative perspective to the processes involved in the development of musicians' focal dystonia involves the dynamic systems theory. Unlike the hierarchical theory of movement organization that supposes a reliance upon sensorimotor representations, dynamic systems theory suggests that movement organization is in fact a result of an adaptable, interchangeable, and flexible network of complex processes throughout the body that are able to facilitate movement spontaneously.
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The premise is that in musicians' focal dystonia, the flexibility of the nervous system to spontaneously react and adapt to changing situations is reduced. Instead, the nervous system is less flexible, unable to adapt sufficiently, and as a result, there is a breakdown of communication between the various areas of the brain involved in the movement process.
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Rosset-Llobet and Nolas (2018) suggest that:
"from the dynamic system point of view, dystonia will appear when there is an imbalance between how able the musician is to adapt to inner or outer environmental changes (how flexible he or she is) and how intense these changes are".
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This dynamic systems theory offers a persuasive motive for the onset of musicians' focal dystonia. Postulations for other, as of yet unexplained factors such as the 4:1 female-to-male ratio of sufferers, have also been addressed. Rosset-Llobet et al. (2012) confirm that women with a regular menstrual cycle are less prone to suffer from the condition, suggesting that the hormonal cycle changes cortical excitability and neuronal plasticity may reduce the incidence of onset. In essence, the brain is more adaptable to change.