Dystonia

Abnormal muscle rigidity, causing painful spasms, unusually fixed postures, or strange movements. Dystonia may affect a localized area of the body, or may be more generalized. The most common types of localized dystonia are torticollis (painful neck spasm) and scoliosis (abnormal sideways curvature of the spine). Generalized dystonia may be due to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, or may also be a side effect of antipsychotic drugs. Dystonia may be resolved with anticholinergic drugs or with benzodiazepine drugs. In some cases, biofeedback training may help. Injections of botulinum toxin into the affected muscles are effective in treating some types of dystonia.