Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on August 31, 2023
Dystonia causes involuntary muscle contractions that lead to unintended movements and changes in posture. It’s estimated to affect over one-third of people with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurogenerative disorder that affects movement. People with PD have symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, and slow movements.
If you have PD, you may also experience dystonia. This is a condition that leads to involuntary muscle contractions that can cause changes in posture and movement.
Keep reading to learn more about PD-related dystonia. We’ll cover how dystonia is associated with PD, ways to manage it, and more.
What is dystonia?
Dystonia is a condition that causes unintended, sometimes painful, muscle contractions. Dystonia can affect one or many different muscle groups in your body.
Dystonic movements are irregular and can last for a few seconds or minutes. They may occur once in a while or very often. They usually happen more frequently as PD progresses.
The effects of dystonia lead to unusual movements and shifts in posture. For example, dystonia affecting your toes can cause them to curl involuntarily, making walking difficult or painful.
Dystonia can sometimes occur on its own due to genetics or unknown causes. But, it may result from another condition or factor, including:
- other neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Wilson’s disease
- birth injury, such as a lack of oxygen to the brain
- head injuries
- stroke
- brain tumors
- infections
- drug reactions
- exposure to environmental toxins
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