Movement Disorders
Every body movement, from raising and lowering an arm to blinking, involves a complex interaction between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), nerves and muscles. Damage to or failure of any of these components may result in a movement disorder. Diseases affecting the brain may cause many movement disorders such as:
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dystonia
- Gait problems
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Tremor
Diagnosis
A correct diagnosis of any movement disorder is essential to delivering the appropriate treatment.
Our team will be using imaging technologies that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, DaTscan™, electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) testing, as well as other neurophysiology assessment tools.
Treatment
Movement disorders show a large variation between patients, showing different symptoms at differing degrees of severity. Treatment plans are individualized and are created based on the patient’s symptoms. We emphasize the use of standardized rating scales and clinical criteria to improve diagnostic accuracy as well as to assist with developing a multi-disciplinary plan of treatment.
By changing lifestyle routines, such as regular exercise and stress reduction, patients will start seeing benefits by preventing the functional decline that often comes with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Working with a physical therapist for their physical medicine and rehabilitative services help Parkinson’s disease patients improve and maximize their mobility by incorporating the latest rehabilitation strategies they put into practice-tailored treatment plans.
Quality of Life
Maintaining the quality of life for our patients is the ultimate goal. We work closely with each individual and alter the treatment plan as necessary. Ancillary measures such as physical and occupational therapy are used as needed. We will also advise on specific nutritional guidelines and watch the response to medications in patients with Parkinson’s disease. A detailed assessment of the patient’s medication list to minimize the possibility of drug and food interactions is also part of our approach.
Other Movement Disorder Services
A tremor is a recurring shaking of a body part caused by unintentional muscular contraction. The most common cause is essential tremor. However, other conditions including Parkinson’s disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis can also cause tremor. We offer sophisticated brain imaging in the form of DaTscan™ that can assist with the diagnosis of tremor. Deep brain stimulation surgery is offered to patients with severe tremor not responding to medications.
Dystonia is involuntary muscle contractions which force certain parts of the body into abnormal and sometimes painful movements or postures. These can affect the neck (cervical dystonia or torticollis), the eyes (blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm) or the limbs (limb dystonia). Palm Beach Neuroscience Institute offers medications and botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to reduce the severity of the dystonic spasm.