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Health Conditions / Movement disorders / Dystonia

What is Dystonia?

Dystonia is a condition that causes sustained muscle contractions. This can trigger repetitive or twisting movements or unintended postures,which can also be painful. Dystonia can affect a specific area of the body or be more widespread throughout several muscle groups. Those muscle contractions may also lead to difficulties performing day-to-day activities.

Dystonia Symptoms

Dystonia affects different people in various ways. The symptoms can range from mild to severe affecting different body parts that cause muscle spasms and contractions. The spasms and contractions may either be sustained or may come and go.

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Rigidity
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Pain
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Anxiety
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Shaking in voice
Dystonia can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary Dystonia is inherited, whilst secondary Dystonia is caused by external factors.

Dystonia Treatment

Treatment will vary, depending on the type of Dystonia you have and the precise nature of your symptoms. Often there will be a multi-disciplinary approach for your treatment, involving neurologists, specialist nurses, physiotherapists and speech therapists.

There are various types of medication that may be prescribed. The main options are drug therapy, injections of botulinum toxin, surgery, physical therapy or alternative treatments. Some of those options can also be combined.1
You will work with your movement disorder specialist team to find the best solution for you.

At Boston Scientific, we offer a unique, personalized therapy that can put you on the path to a better tomorrow. It’s called Deep Brain Stimulation, or simply DBS.

Discover how Deep Brain Stimulation therapy works

Discover how Deep Brain Stimulation therapy works

The stimulation may help regulate the incorrect signaling in the brain, improving some of the symptoms of movement disorders. For many people, daily activities which had been impossible to perform previously could become feasible again.

To be accepted for DBS surgery, your specialist team will advise you to be aerobically fit as you can be.


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