Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Symposium 4

Overview of involuntary movements

Yoshikazu Ugawa, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical Universtiy

This issue is a kind introduction for the next three speakers who will give lectures about three considerably pathophysiology-known involuntary movements: tremor, myoclonus and dystonia. What's involuntary movement? This question relies on what is a voluntary movement. Some movements may include voluntary components and involuntary components. It usually excludes normal reflex movements, but they are sometimes included in the involuntary when much enhanced and cause some problems for the patients. Classification of involuntary movements. Clinical classification is based on clinical features, and it is, therefore, the same as how we explain some unknown movements to others. The rhythmicity, rapidness, pattern, stereotypy, part of the body involved, trigger factors are main features we use. How to record them. Video recording is the best method to record and show them to others. EEG, evoked potentials, polygraphs and some other physiological studies may help you to analyze their pathophysiology.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (531K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 53: 1273|1274, 2013)
key words: involuntary movements, rhythm, stereotypy, pattern

(Received: 1-Jun-13)