Disorders of Movement Flashcards
What is a tremor?
Rhythmical sinusoidal oscillation of a body part
Types of tremors?
- Resting
- Postural
- Kinetic
What is a postural tremor?
Occurs when arms are outstretched
What is a kinetic tremor?
Occurs with movement
What are resting tremors typical of?
Parkinson’s disease
Other parkinsonian conditions
What is the most common type of postural tremor?
Essential tremor
-This runs in families with no other movement abnormalities
What conditions can cause postural tremors?
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Wilson’s disease
- Physiological tremors (nervous)
What is myoclonus?
Quick, involuntary muscle jerk
Normal forms of myoclonus?
Hypnic jerks when falling asleep(dream you are falling) and hiccough
What causes myoclonus?
Brief activation of group of muscles leading to a jerk to the affected body part
-Activation can arise from cortex, subcortical structures, spinal cord or nerve root and plexus
What is dystonia?
Characterised by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal often repetitive movements, postures, or both
What typically are dystonic movements?
Patterned twisting and may be tremulus
Difference between dystonia and myoclonus?
Myoclonus: abnormal contractions
Dystonia: Abnormal movements and postures created by the contractions
What is chorea?
Brief irregular purposeless movements that flit and flow from one body part to another
How does a patient with chorea appear?
Constantly restless or fidgety
