Focal Dystonia
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Learn About Focal Dystonia

View Main Condition: Movement Disorders

What is the definition of Focal Dystonia?
Focal dystonia is a disorder of the neurological system that causes muscle contractions in one area of the body, such as the face, vocal cords, neck, jaw, fingers, wrists, hands, or feet. Task-specific focal dystonia is a type of dystonia that causes muscle contractions in areas of the body associated with specific tasks, such as writer’s cramp.
What are the symptoms of Focal Dystonia?
Symptoms of focal dystonia depend on the affected area. Focal dystonia commonly affects the eyelids, jaw, tongue, neck, vocal cords, hand, or forearm but can occur in other areas. Symptoms of focal dystonia may progress, stay the same or stop, and then recur. The initial symptom of focal dystonia may be reduced muscle coordination, such as dropping things. As focal dystonia progresses, symptoms may include muscle pain, twitching muscles, muscle cramps, and abnormal postures of the affected area. Secondary symptoms of focal dystonia may include fatigue, trouble focusing, blurred vision, mood swings, depression, short temper, and difficulty sleeping.
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What are the current treatments for Focal Dystonia?
Treatment for focal dystonia may include lifestyle changes; physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; massage; stretches; medications, such as trihexyphenidyl, tetrabenazine, carbidopa/levodopa, clonazepam, valium, Baclofen, benzodiazepines, and Botulinum toxin injection; or surgery, such as deep brain stimulation or selective denervation.
Who are the top Focal Dystonia Local Doctors?
Elite in Focal Dystonia
Elite in Focal Dystonia
Referral may be required

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

9500 Euclid Avenue, 
Cleveland, OH 
Languages Spoken:
English
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Hubert Fernandez is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Fernandez is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Dystonia. He is also highly rated in 44 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Movement Disorders, Parkinson's Disease, Tardive Dyskinesia, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Gastric Bypass. Dr. Fernandez is currently accepting new patients.

Elite in Focal Dystonia
Elite in Focal Dystonia
Referral may be required

Brigham And Women's Hospital, Neurosciences Center

60 Fenwood Road, 1st Floor Hale Building For Transformative Medicine, 
Boston, MA 
Languages Spoken:
English
Offers Telehealth

Nutan Sharma received an AB from Stanford University, and her MD and PHD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She competed a Neurology residency at Yale University, and a fellowship in movement disorders with Brad Hyman at MGH. She became an instructor in Neurology at Harvard medical School in 2001, attaining the rank of Associate Professor in 2011.  In 2001, Dr. Sharma established the first Dystonia Clinic for comprehensive care of patients with dystonia at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  In 2005, the International Movement Disorders Society honored Dr. Sharma for Excellence in Basic Science. She is also director of the Collaborative Center for the study of X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP), which funds research and medical care for those with XDP. Dr. Sharma is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Dystonia. She is also highly rated in 16 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Drug Induced Dyskinesia, Focal Dystonia, Movement Disorders, X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Sharma is board certified in Neurology.

 
 
 
 
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Elite in Focal Dystonia
Elite in Focal Dystonia
Referral may be required

Emory Brain Health Center

12 Executive Park Drive Northeast, 
Atlanta, GA 
Experience:
33+ years
Languages Spoken:
English
Offers Telehealth

Hyder Jinnah is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He has been practicing medicine for over 33 years. Dr. Jinnah is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Dystonia. He is also highly rated in 15 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Benign Essential Blepharospasm, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, Focal Dystonia, Torticollis, and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Jinnah is board certified in American Board Of Psychiatry And Neurology, 1999.

What are the latest Focal Dystonia Clinical Trials?
Safety and Impact on Quality of Life of Focused Ultrasound Pallidotomy for Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy in Pediatric and Young Adult Subjects

Summary: The primary objective of the proposed study is to evaluate the safety of ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS as a tool for creating bilateral or unilateral lesions in the globus pallidus (GPi) in patients with treatment-refractory secondary dystonia due to dyskinetic cerebral palsy

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The Effects of Different Vibro-tactile Stimulation Intensities on Head Posture in Cervical Dystonia

Summary: The primary goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of cervical vibrotactile stimulation intensity on abnormal head posture in people with cervical dystonia. The main question is: Does higher vibration intensity correct head posture to a greater extent than lower vibration intensity? Researchers will compare the head posture of participants with cervical dystonia who receive differen...