What is Dystonia?

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder that makes it difficult for people to control their muscles. Common symptoms include abnormal position in part of the body, muscle spasms & cramps as well as pain. The cause of dystonia is often unknown, it some cases it is genetic or can be acquired from a brain injury.

High levels of stress and repetitive actions can also cause an onset of dystonic movements. One form of dystonia is Focal Dystonia which affects one part of the body including the hands or arms. Common focal dystonia that impacts the hand and arm include writer’s cramp & forearm dystonia. Musicians can also experience focal dystonia while trying to play their instruments.

Writer’s cramp symptoms include muscle spasms & cramping in the fingers, hand or forearm when writing which makes it difficult to write and for others to read your writing. In some people these symptoms can also impact other fine motor skills including using cutlery & shaving. Writer’s cramp is mostly commonly diagnosed in people aged 30-50 years.

How Can Hand Therapy Help?

A hand therapist will assess your hand and forearm to ensure there is no underlying nerve or structural injury causing the dystonic movements. If focal dystonia is suspected, your hand therapist will work closely with you to re-train your brain to “break” the pattern of dystonic movements. This can be achieved by splinting or using external aids to block the altered movement, soft tissue management to treat overused and tight muscles, and a comprehensive re-training program to learn how to do the affected action again without the spasms or cramps occurring.