What are Spasticity and Movement Disorders?

Spasticity is one form of movement disorder (an inability to produce and control bodily movements), that presents as increased tone or stiffness of the muscles. Spastic and other movement disorders are usually the result of problems with the part of the brain that control voluntary movement, of the body, arms and legs.

Other common types of movement disorders include:

1. Ataxia: an inability to control or coordinate one's muscles’ actions.
2. Chorea: sudden, rapid, jerky movements.
3. Dystonia: twisting movements.
4. Myoclonus: sudden, involuntary, uncontrollable, very strong twitching movements from muscle spasms, followed by relaxation.
5. Tremors: an unintentional and uncontrollable rhythmic movement of one part or limb of the body.
6. Ballismus/Hemiballismus: intermittent, sudden, violent, involuntary, flinging, high amplitude movement of extremities.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM