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Dystonia

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 18, 2022.

Overview

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract involuntarily. This can cause repetitive or twisting movements.

The condition can affect one part of your body (focal dystonia), two or more adjacent parts (segmental dystonia), or all parts of your body (general dystonia). The muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. They may be painful, and they can interfere with your performance of daily tasks.

There's no cure for dystonia, but medications and therapy can improve symptoms. Surgery is sometimes used to disable or regulate nerves or certain brain regions in people with severe dystonia.

Symptoms

Dystonia affects different people in different ways. Muscle spasms might:

Areas of the body that can be affected include:

When to see a doctor

Early signs of dystonia often are mild, occasional and linked to a specific activity. See your health care provider if you're having involuntary muscle contractions.

Causes

The exact cause of dystonia isn't known. But it might involve changes in communication between nerve cells in several regions of the brain. Some forms of dystonia are passed down in families.

Dystonia can also be a symptom of another disease or condition, including:

Complications

Depending on the type of dystonia, complications can include:

Diagnosis

To diagnose dystonia, your health care provider may start with a medical history and physical examination.

To determine if underlying conditions are causing your symptoms, your provider might recommend:

Treatment

To manage dystonia, your provider might recommend a combination of medications, therapy or surgery.

Medications

Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, others) into specific muscles might reduce or stop your muscle spasms. Injections are usually repeated every 3 to 4 months.

Side effects are generally mild and temporary. They can include weakness, dry mouth or voice changes.

Other medications target chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) that affect muscle movement. The options include:

Therapy

Your health care provider might suggest:

Surgery

If your symptoms are severe, surgery might help. There are a few types of surgery to treat dystonia:

Lifestyle and home remedies

Dystonia has no cure, but you can do several things to manage symptoms:

Alternative medicine

Alternative treatments for dystonia haven't been well studied. Ask your health care provider about complementary treatments before you start them. Consider:

Coping and support

Living with dystonia can be difficult and frustrating. Your body might not always move as you would like, and you may be uncomfortable in social situations. You and your family might find it helpful to talk to a therapist or join a support group.

Preparing for an appointment

You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the nervous system (neurologist).

What you can do

Questions to ask your health care provider

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask, don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider may ask you some questions. Being ready to answer them may give you more time to focus on your concerns. You may be asked:

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