Involuntary movements/movement disorders and terminology

Question 1

Athetosis

Answer 1

Slow, twisting, and writhing type movements that are large in amplitude

• primarily seen in the face, tongue, trunk and extremities
• there is usually instability of posture

Question 2

Chorea

Answer 2

Two Words: Dance Like

• typically due to damage of the caudate nucleus

Movements are sudden, random and involuntary

Question 3

Dystonia

Answer 3

Closely related to athetosis

• More larger axial muscle involvement rather than appendicular muscles

Question 4

Tics

Answer 4

Sudden, brief, repetitive, coordinated movement that usually occur irregular intervals

• Tourette syndrome can present with Tics

Question 5

Tremor

Answer 5

Rhythmic, Oscillatory movement, involuntary

• secondary to damage to the basal ganglia

Question 6

Resting Tremor

Answer 6

Tremors observable at rest

• may or may not disappear with movement
• Parkinson’s Disease

Question 7

Postural Tremor

Answer 7

Tremors that are observable during a voluntary contraction to maintain a posture

Question 8

Intention (Kinetic) Tremor

Answer 8

Tremors that are ABSENT at rest

• Observable during activity typically as the target approaches
• Likely indicate lesion of the Cerebellum
• Or seen with the efferent pathways that are seen with MS

Question 9

Akinesia

Answer 9

The inability to initiate movement

• Commonly seen with Parkinson Disease

Question 10

Asthenia

Answer 10

Generalize Weakness

• Secondary to cerebellar pathology

Question 11

Ataxia

Answer 11

The inability to perform coordinated movements

Question 12

Bradykinesia

Answer 12

Movements that is very slow

Question 13

Clasp-Knife Response

Answer 13

A form of resistance seen during range of motion of hypertonic joint

• Greatest resistance a t the initiation of range that lessens with movement through the range of motion

Question 14

Clonus

Answer 14

Characteristics of UMN lesion

• involuntary spasmodic contraction of a muscle precipitated by a quick stretch reflex

Question 15

Cogwheel Rigidity

Answer 15

Form of Rigidity

• Resistance to movement has a phasic quality to it
• move - catch, move - catch, move - catch

Often seen with PD

Question 16

Dysdiadochokinesia

Answer 16

inability to perform rapidly alternating movements

• fast supination pronation

Question 17

Dysmetria

Answer 17

inability to control the range of movment and the force of muscular activity

Question 18

Fasciculation

Answer 18

Muscular twitch that is caused by random discharge of a lower motor neuron and it muscle fibers

• Suggests a LMN disease but can also be benign

Question 19

Hemiballism

Answer 19

Involuntary and violent movement of a large body part

Question 20

Lead-Pipe Rigidity

Answer 20

form of rigidity in which there is uniform and constant resistance to range of motion

• Associated with lesion of the basal ganglia

Question 21

Rigidity

Answer 21

State of severe hypertonicity where a sustained muscle contraction does not allow for any movement at a specific joint