Movement - uncontrollable

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Treatment

Movement - uncontrollable

Definition:

Uncontrollable movements are slow, twisting, continuous, and involuntary movements of the arms, legs, face, neck, or other parts of the body.

Alternative Names:

Uncontrolled movements; Involuntary body movements; Body movements - uncontrollable

Considerations:

This condition is usually a lifelong problem that begins during childhood and is characterized by involuntary neck, face, forearm, wrist, and hand movements. Facial grimaces along with tongue and jaw movements are often associated with involuntary neck movements.

Stress and activity often aggravate this condition, and relaxation and sleep help relieve the problem.

Common Causes:

IN CHILDREN

Hypoxia at birth
Genetic disorder
Kernicterus (excessive bilirubin in the central nervous system)

IN ADULTS

Drug toxicity
Degenerative disease
Neoplastic lesions
Vascular (blood vessel) lesions

Review Date: 2/15/2005
Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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