Movement of the body requires the complex interaction between the nerves, central nervous system and the muscles. Any damage or problem with these components can present movement disorders. There are various forms of movement disorders that are based on the location of the problem which can include damage to the part of the brain that controls voluntary movement, damage to the basal ganglia which is the collection of nerve cells at the cerebrum or the damage to the cerebellum. Some of the movement disorders can cause temporary problems while other serious ones can impair the individual’s ability to use hands or walk. Few types of movement disorders include ataxia, dystonia, essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, spasticity and restless legs syndrome.
Ataxia
Ataxia is the condition presenting problem with the muscle control of the coordination of voluntary movements. Individuals with ataxia can experience problems with speech, eye movement and difficulty swallowing. This develops as the result of degeneration or the loss of nerve cells to a part of the brain known as cerebellum that affects the control of muscle coordination. Some of the causes of ataxia include head trauma, stroke, tumor on the brain, toxic reaction, infections, cerebral palsy and autoimmune disease. It can occur as the result of a hereditary condition developing from certain gene defects which in most cases are progressive. Ataxia can cause difficulty with fine motor tasks, involuntary back and forth eye movements and poor coordination. There is no treatment specifically for ataxia but the symptoms can be managed.
Dystonia
Dystonia presents involuntary contractions of the muscles causing twisting or repetitive movements. The muscle spasms can be mild or severe affecting one part or all parts of the body. The symptoms can vary among the different cases and can begin in a single part of the body such as the leg or the arm, occur at specific action such as handwriting and can become more apparent over time. Some of the areas of the body it can affect include the neck, the eyelids, the jaw, the tongue, voice box, the hand and the forearm. It can develop as the result of nerve-cell communication of the brain. It can also be the result of another condition such as Wilson’s disease, stroke, reactions to certain medications, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Restless leg syndrome
This condition is characterized by the unpleasant sensation of the legs and the urge to move them in order to relieve the symptoms. This is a neurological sensory disorder presenting symptoms that are produced from within the brain. It can affect people of all ages but most severely occurs in middle-aged or older people. The symptoms are described as sensations of the legs that are described as itching, aching throbbing or crawling. This commonly affects the arms and rarely the head or the chest. As the movement of the limbs can relieve the discomfort, the affected individuals tend to keep their legs moving constantly to prevent the sensations. Although the exact cause of this syndrome is not known, it is associated with the genetic factor and the low levels of iron in the brain. The treatment is focused on medications to provide relief from the symptoms or to provide treatment for the associated medical conditions such as diabetes and iron deficiency anemia.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ataxia/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20311887
