People ͏suffering from movement disorders have limited mobility and require medical aid and care to manage daily tasks. Understanding movement ͏disorders empowers affected ͏people and their caregivers to͏ manage such issues by seeking professional ͏help. Here ͏is more information about movement disorders͏ and their various treatment and management͏ methods:
About Mobility Disorders
Movement disorders are conditions that affect the normal motion of the body. The conditions influence the͏ brain and nervous system, specifically the basal ganglia and͏ cerebellum. Damage͏ in these areas ͏results in tremors,͏ inflexible movements, unintended ͏jerks͏, or balance problems.
͏Types of Mobility Disorders
The most common mobility disorders are Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, tremor disorders, and Huntington’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a mobility disorder characterized by ͏tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. ͏This condition is more prevalent among older people, but͏ might also affect younger ͏populations. ͏Dystonia causes muscle spasms that trigger ͏repetitive movements or unnatural͏ body postures in specific͏ sections or the entire body. ͏Tremor disorders cause rhythmic shaking of the hands͏, head, or voice. ͏Huntington’s disease results in sudden abnormal movements and͏ a slow loss of cognitive capabilities.
Causes of Mobility Disorders
Many movement conditions arise from changes or damage to specific brain areas responsible for movement. Parkinson’s disease ͏develops when the neurons that create dopamine ͏in the brain start to ͏die͏. Lower dopamine amounts͏ are detrimental to the interaction between the regions of the brain that oversee movement and ͏coordination. Huntington’s disease results ͏from a genetic mutation that causes a ͏breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
͏Other mobility disorders͏ originate from͏ infections, autoimmune responses, ͏or certain ͏pharmaceutical products. Dystonia is caused by brain͏ injuries͏, but it ͏can also be passed on through genes. Tremors are hereditary and arise ͏from͏ other neurological conditions, such as ͏multiple sclerosis.
Diagnosis of Mobility Disorders
A neurologist starts by analyzing your family’s history of͏ ͏neurological disorders.͏ This helps narrow down any specific mobility disorders from ͏your genetic background. The clinic uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ͏computerized tomography (CT) imaging͏ to view͏ the brain’s ͏anatomy͏ and detect any ͏irregularities linked to movement problems. The ͏diagnosis might rely on a ͏dopamine transporter scan͏ to͏ reveal alterations in dopamine levels in the ͏brain in the case of Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Treatment of Mobility Disorders
Medications͏ help limit abnormal movements ͏and other involuntary reactions. Neurologists͏ ͏offer medication that raises ͏or imitates dopamine levels to ͏reduce bot͏h͏ ͏tremors͏ and rigidity͏ with Parkinson’s disease. Muscle relaxants or Botox ͏injections͏ lessen muscle contractions͏ ͏and decrease͏ ͏discomfort in t͏he case of dystonia.͏ People with Huntington’s disease ͏benefit from combining medications with physical therapy to preserve their motor functions. Beta-blockers or antiseizure medications suit people experiencing ͏tremor͏ disorders.
Surgical alternatives like deep brain stimulation͏ (DBS͏) help if medications do not achieve the expected result. DBS ͏involves implanting electrodes into specific brain zones to help ͏manage abnormal electrical impulses that trigger͏ movement problems. ͏This treatment helps ͏decrease symptoms for͏ ͏people with Parkinson’s disease.͏
Get Help With ͏Movement Disorders
Medical interventions͏, ͏physical ͏therapies, and ͏other treatments help people with͏ movement disorders manage their symptoms. A neurologist will diagnose and ͏find therapies that suit ͏your specific ͏disorder. Contact a ͏neurology clinic today to get help͏ with your condition.