What Causes Dystonia?

Dystonia is a disorder that causes a patient to develop involuntary muscle contractions. These contractions can trigger repetitive movements and posture abnormalities, and they may affect a single muscle, a group of muscles, or the entire body. It is estimated one percent of the population in the United States has dystonia, and women are more likely to develop it than men. Early signs of the disorder include speech difficulties, cramps in the feet, a pulling sensation in the neck, and feeling as though the legs are dragging while walking. Patients may also experience uncontrollable blinking. Children diagnosed with dystonia typically have their first symptoms in the hands or feet. When the disease is diagnosed in adults, they often report experiencing their first symptoms in the upper body. For patients who are adults at the time of diagnosis, dystonia normally stays in one part of the body; this is termed focal or segmental dystonia. Pediatric patients typically experience a more widespread manifestation of this disorder that may affect many parts of the body.