Movement Disorders/Terminology

Question 1

Athetosis

Answer 1

Slow, twisting, and writhing movements that are large in amplitude. Mostly seen in the face, tongue, trunk, and extremities

Question 2

Chroea

Answer 2

a form of hyperkinesia that presents with brief, irregular contractions that are rapid. Often equated to “fidgeting”

Question 3

Dystonia

Answer 3

A syndrome of sustained muscle contractions that frequently cause twisting, abnormal postures, and repetitive movements.

*PD, CP, encephalitis

Question 4

Tics

Answer 4

sudden, brief, repetitive coordination movements that will usually occur at irregular intervals.

Question 5

Resting Tremors

Answer 5

observable at rest and may or may not disappear with movement; may increase with mental stress.

Question 6

Postural Tremors

Answer 6

observable during voluntary contraction to maintain a posture.

Question 7

Intention (kinetic) Tremors

Answer 7

absent at rest, but observable with activity and typically increase as the target approaches.

Question 8

Akinesia

Answer 8

the inability to initiate movement, commonly seen in patients with PD

Question 9

Asthenia

Answer 9

generalized weakness typically secondary to cerebellar pathology

Question 10

Ataxia

Answer 10

the inability to perform coordinated movements

Question 11

Athetosis

Answer 11

a condition that presents with involuntary movements combined with instability of posture. Peripheral movements occur without central stability

Question 12

Bradykinesia

Answer 12

movement that is very slow

Question 13

Chorea

Answer 13

movements that are sudden, random, and involuntary

Question 14

Clasp-knife response

Answer 14

a form of resistance seen during range of motion of hypertonic joint where there is greatest resistance at the initiation of range that lessens with movement through the range of motion

Question 15

Clonus

Answer 15

a characteristic of an upper motor neuron lesion; involuntary alternating spasmodic contraction of a muscle precipitated by a quick stretch reflex

Question 16

Cogwheel rigidity

Answer 16

a form of rigidity where resistance of movement has a phasic quality to it; often seen in PD

Question 17

Dysdiadochokinesia

Answer 17

the inability to perform rapidly alternating movements

Question 18

Dysmetria

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Dystonia

Answer 19

closely related to athetosis, however there is larger axial muscle involvement rather than appendicular muscles

Question 20

Fasciculation

Answer 20

a muscular twitch that is caused by random discharge of a LMN and its muscle fibers; suggests a LMN disease but can be benign

Question 21

Hemiballism

Answer 21

an involuntary and violent movement of a large body part

Question 22

Kinesthesia

Answer 22

the ability to perceive the direction and extent of movement of a joint or body part

Question 23

Lead pipe rigidity

Answer 23

uniform and constant resistance to range of motion, often associated with lesions of the basal ganglia

Question 24

Rigidity

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Tremor

Answer 25

involuntary rhythmic, oscillatory movements secondary to a basal ganglia lesion.