Movement Disorders – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Movement disorders affect the nervous system and change how people move. These conditions can cause too much movement or too little movement. Some movements are voluntary, meaning a person can control them. Others are involuntary, meaning they happen automatically.

Many different types of movement disorders exist. Dystonia makes muscles contract, causing the body to twist. Meanwhile, chorea creates quick, repetitive movements that people cannot control. Lastly, parkinsonism slows movement and causes stiffness, tremors, or balance problems.

Doctors can often treat movement disorder symptoms. Treatment options include medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and surgery.

The right treatment depends on what type of movement disorder someone has. If another health condition causes the movement disorder, treating that condition may improve symptoms.

Symptoms

Movement disorders create different symptoms depending on their type. Here are common movement disorders and their key symptoms:

Ataxia

• Causes poor muscle coordination in arms and legs
• Leads to balance problems
• May affect speech
• Can stem from genetic conditions, infections, or treatable conditions

Chorea

• Creates brief, irregular rapid movements that repeat
• Affects face, mouth, trunk, arms and legs
• Appears similar to exaggerated fidgeting
• Huntington’s disease is the most common genetic form
  • Includes uncontrolled movements
  • Causes thinking difficulties
  • Often involves mental health symptoms

Dystonia

• Involves unwanted muscle contractions
• Creates twisting movements or unusual postures
• May affect the whole body or specific parts
• Cervical dystonia (neck muscle dystonia) is most common in adults
  • Pulls head to one side or tilts forward/backward
  • Sometimes includes head tremors

Functional Movement Disorder

• Resembles other movement disorders
• Not caused by neurological disease
• Generally treatable

Multiple System Atrophy

• Rare condition affecting multiple brain systems
• Worsens over time
• Causes movement problems like ataxia or parkinsonism
• Additional symptoms include low blood pressure and bladder issues

Myoclonus

• Causes very quick muscle jerks

Parkinson’s Disease

• Causes tremors
• Creates muscle stiffness
• Leads to slow or decreased movement
• Results in balance problems
• Non-movement symptoms include:
  • Reduced sense of smell
  • Constipation
  • Acting out dreams
  • Thinking difficulties
• Progressively worsens over time

Parkinsonism

• General term for movement slowness with stiffness, tremors, or balance issues
• Common causes include:

Cause	Description
Parkinson’s disease	Most common cause
Certain Medications	Especially dopamine-blocking drugs
Degenerative disorders	Multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy
Physical Trauma	Stroke or repeated head injuries

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

• Rare nervous system condition
• Affects walking, balance, and eye movements
• May look like Parkinson’s disease but is different

Restless Legs Syndrome

• Creates uncomfortable sensations in legs when relaxing
• Symptoms include aching, itching, or creeping feelings
• Discomfort typically improves with movement

Tardive Dyskinesia

• Caused by long-term use of certain mental health medications
• Also linked to metoclopramide (used for gastrointestinal issues)
• Creates repetitive, involuntary movements
• Symptoms include grimacing and eye blinking

Tourette Syndrome

• Involves repetitive movements and vocal sounds (tics)
• Tics are voluntary movements driven by unwanted urges
• Typically, begins between childhood and teenage years

Tremor

• Causes rhythmic shaking of body parts
• Commonly affects hands, head, or other areas
• Essential tremor is the most common type

These symptoms can vary in severity and may change over time. If you experience any of these symptoms, contacting a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis is important.

Causes

Movement disorders can happen due to many different factors. People may get these disorders from genes they inherit from their parents. For example, conditions like Huntington’s disease and Wilson’s disease can run in families.

Some medications can trigger movement problems. Anti-seizure and anti-psychotic drugs are known to sometimes cause these issues.

Substance use plays a role too. Using illegal drugs like cocaine or drinking too much alcohol can lead to movement disorders such as chorea or ataxia.

Not getting enough vitamins can affect movement. Low levels of vitamin B-1, B-12, or E may cause ataxia, a disorder that affects coordination and balance.

Several medical conditions are linked to movement disorders:

• Thyroid problems
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Viral encephalitis
• Brain tumors

Head injuries from accidents or trauma can also result in movement disorders.

Unknown causes are common. For many people with movement disorders, doctors cannot find a specific cause. This is called idiopathic, which simply means the exact reason remains unknown despite medical testing.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase a person’s chance of developing movement disorders:

Genetic Factors

• Family history plays a significant role in certain movement disorders
• Essential tremor can run in families
• Huntington’s disease is inherited from parents
• Wilson’s disease has genetic components
• Tourette syndrome often has familial patterns

Medical Conditions

Certain underlying health issues may contribute to movement disorder development. Having specific medical conditions can increase risk.

Medication Effects

Some medications can cause or worsen movement disorders as side effects. Always discuss any unusual movements with a healthcare provider if they begin after starting new medicine.

Lifestyle Factors

Several lifestyle choices can affect your risk:

Risk Factor	Description
Alcohol consumption	Heavy drinking may increase risk
Substance use	Illegal drugs, especially cocaine, may trigger movement problems
Nutritional deficiencies	Lack of certain vitamins can affect nervous system function

Age

Some movement disorders become more common as people age, though they can affect people of all ages.

Environmental Exposures

Contact with certain toxins, chemicals, or environmental factors might contribute to movement disorder development in some cases.

Brain Injury

Trauma to the brain from accidents, strokes, or other injuries can sometimes lead to movement disorders.

If you notice any unusual movements or have a family history of movement disorders, speaking with a healthcare provider is important. Early detection often leads to better management of symptoms.