Movement Disorders

Symptoms by body part:

Anti-Brachial region (Lower-Arm)
Abnormal limb movements
Brachial region (Upper-Arm)
Abnormal limb movements
Lateral Hand/Carpal
Abnormal limb movements
Medial Hand/Carpal
Abnormal limb movements

Movement Disorders are a type of neurological disorder that results in abnormal or involuntary movement, or slowed movement.  These are generally classified as hypokinetic and hyperkinetic disorders, with many subclassifications.  These can be caused by genetic disorders, previous musculoskeletal injury, nerve injury, pathology or medications.  Not having control over your movements can be very scary, but in many instances we can help.  Chiropractic Neurology serves to break these abnormal patterns of movement and retrain them in the appropriate manner.  Certain types are more difficult to treat, and others easier, however we will be able to determine that after a complete functional neurological examination.

How can we help?

By recognizing the type of movement disorder and diagnosing the brain and neuro-musculoskeletal pathways involved, we are able to design specific treatment plans to re-establish normal movement patterns.  Often, we see that many issues can stem from feedback issues, which is described as the normal neurological input from our body structures to our brain.  When this is aberrant, the brain patterns shift in an attempt to deal with the “new” information and thus dysfunction occurs, and in this case involving our muscles, joints, gait patters, coordination and movement.  We recognize this abnormal pattern, and exchange it for the normal pattern of function by restoring feedback and training the brain through complex neurological exercises, physical rehabilitation and chiropractic care.  Dr. Aaron MacArthur has received post-doctoral education specific to the field of movement disorders, within the field of neurology. 

Types of movement disorders:

  • Dyskinesia (Paroxysmal)

A common symptom of these disorders, and results in jerky or abnormal and unwanted movements.  Tics and Tremors are a type of dyskinesia.

  • Cervical Dystonia
    Cervical dystonia (CD) is a focal dystonia characterized by abnormal movements or postures of the neck and head. Torticollis is a common form of this.
  • Tardive Dystonia (late onset)

Most commonly due to exposure to neuroelptic medications

  • Essential Tremor
    Essential tremor or ET is a common movement disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic oscillatory movements resulting from alternating or irregularly synchronous contractions of antagonist muscles.
  • Tics and Tourette Syndrome
    Tics consist of patterned involuntary (or semivoluntary) movements and vocalizations and can present as either motor or phonic (vocal) tics. The primary characteristics associated with Tourette syndrome (TS) are multiple motor tics and one or more phonic tics.
  • Spasticity
    Spasticity is a speed-dependent increase in stretch reflexes that is part of the upper motor neuron syndrome. It may be accompanied by clonus and spasms.
  • Ataxia
    Ataxia is the inability to make smooth, accurate, and coordinated movements, often due to disease of the cerebellum.
  • Parkinson's Disease
    Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological movement disorder associated with bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, and postural instability.
  • Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
    Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rapidly progressing degenerative disease whose cause is unknown. Degeneration of cells in several brain areas causes a variety of motor symptoms, including postural instability and frequent falls, difficulty swallowing and speaking, and slowed movements.
  • Myoclonus
    Myoclonus is a condition of very rapid and brief shock-like jerks.
  • Chorea and Choreoathetosis
    Choreoathetosis is a syndrome of continuous random movements that usually occur at rest and may appear to be fidgety, dancing, or writhing.
  • Psychogenic Disorders
    Psychogenic disorders span the full range of possible symptoms, including tremor, dystonia, ataxia, bradykinesia, and chorea.
  • Restless Legs Syndrome
    Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a frequently misdiagnosed neurologic movement disorder characterized by distinctive sensory and motor abnormalities, including unpleasant sensations relieved by movement.
  • Sydenham's Chorea
    Sydenham's chorea is a neurologic movement disorder characterized by irregular, abrupt, relatively rapid involuntary muscle movements of the face, neck, trunk, and limbs.
  • Wilson Disease
    Wilson disease, also known as hepatolenticular degeneration, is a rare inherited systemic disorder of copper metabolism.
  • Huntington's Disease
    Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the development of emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric abnormalities; loss of previously acquired intellectual or cognitive functioning; and motor disturbances.
  • Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
    Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a group of genetic, degenerative disorders of the spinal cord characterized by progressive paraplegia and spasticity of the legs.
  • Drug-induced Movement Disorders
    Abnormal movements, including hyperkinesis; hypokinesia; tremor; and dystonia, associated with the use of certain medications or drugs. Muscles of the face, trunk, neck, and extremities are most commonly affected. Tardive dyskinesia refers to abnormal hyperkinetic movements of the muscles of the face, tongue, and neck associated with the use of neuroleptic agents.
  • Corticobasal Degeneration
    Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a rare neurological disease in which parts of the brain deteriorate. CBD is also known as corticobasal ganglionic degeneration, or CBGD.
  • Multiple System Atrophy
    Multiple system atrophy or MSA is a neurodegenerative disease marked by a combination of symptoms affecting movement, blood pressure, and other body functions.
  • Rett Syndrome
    Rett syndrome (RS) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmental regression, loss of communication abilities, and motor difficulties.
    • Tics
      Tics are repetitive, stereotyped, and sometimes complex involuntary movements or sounds that may appear similar to purposeful actions.
    • Tremor
      Tremor is a rhythmic Anterior-Posterior shaking at rest or with movement.

-Much of this information was gathered from WE MOVE 2012