Treating dystonia involves first understanding more about what this disorder is and what happens to cause it. Broadview Health Centre offers treatment for Dystonia & other movement disorders in Ottawa.
What is Dystonia?
People with dystonia experience involuntary muscle contractions and movements.
Characterized by painful, constant or intermittent muscle spasms, dystonia causes repetitive movements, abnormal postures and uncontrollable twisting of an affected part of the body. Examples include the neck turning to one side, the toes curling under or a foot turning inward.
In some cases dystonia affects a single muscle group, in others, it may be more widespread. Usually, the symptoms begin
in one part of the body, such as the neck, face, eye, jaw, arm or leg and, in some cases, may spread to other parts of the body.
Dystonia symptoms may worsen or be brought on by physical activity, especially repetitive activities, such as writing or keyboarding.
These painful muscle contractions can make performing the everyday tasks of daily life difficult. The severity varies from person to person.
What Causes Dystonia?
Though scientists do not know the exact causes of dystonia, generally, it likely involves an issue in the basal ganglia and a miscommunication between nerve cells in the brain.
This could be as a result of trauma, genetics, infection or a reaction to certain medications.
There may even be an association with abnormal iron levels in the blood, although this is rare.
Treating Dystonia at Broadview
At our clinic, treatment begins with an examination of patient history, family history, environmental factors, mental and emotional health and much more.
Treatment options grow from this initial examination and may include physical therapy, speech therapy, stretching, massage and more.
Although there are surgical and medical treatment options for dystonia, at Broadview Spine & Health Centre in Ottawa we prefer to take a holistic approach to treat this disorder.
Depending on the findings of the examination, the involved neural pathways may be in a state of excessive or insufficient firing, and the required stimulation is designed to restore balance, thereby improving function.
Our team will then work to employ different strategies from the treatment list to enable a better quality of life for you as the goal.
Although there is no cure for dystonia, at Broadview we provide a revolutionary, research-based approach to neurological rehabilitation of movement disorders in Ottawa. Some treatments include:
• vision therapy
• vestibular rehabilitation
• transcranial vagus nerve stimulation
• mirror therapy
Using the latest treatments and therapies to ease symptoms and make daily life more comfortable is the best solution. Every person’s case is unique and therefore treatment must be individualized and designed just for you. New and improved treatments are being developed as ongoing research strives to find the various genetic, environmental or other underlying mechanisms that may play a role in causing dystonia.
At Broadview, we are dedicated to helping people with dystonia live a better life by providing treatments tailored to their individual needs.
Talk to the specialists at Broadview for comprehensive diagnostic services and treatment for dystonia in Ottawa.