Hyperkinesia is an increase in unwanted muscle activity that can be a symptom of various diseases, including Huntington’s disease, and is often linked to developmental and psychological disorders. Dystonia is a common kinesthetic movement disorder that can cause abnormal postures and repetitive movements. Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder characterized by chorea, which progressively inhibits the individual’s ability to walk, talk, and think coherently. Restless legs syndrome is a hyperkinesis disease that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs, leading to significant sleep deprivation. Medications can help alleviate symptoms.
Hyperkinesia is a broad term that describes the increase in unwanted muscle activity that can contribute to a person exhibiting abnormal body movements. The condition is often a symptom of a myriad of diseases that result in excessive muscular and sometimes neurological restlessness, such as Huntington’s disease. A number of hyperkinesia disorders begin in childhood and are linked to certain developmental and psychological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. Hyperkinesia is a significantly broad term, so it is imperative to distinguish movements from one another based on degree, randomness or repetition, and pace. In order to determine the origin and prognosis of hyperkinesia, a doctor will take a thorough medical history focusing on family history of illnesses, past infections or exposure to toxic chemicals and medications, or chronic substance abuse cases.
A common kinesthetic movement disorder, dystonia, is characterized by sustained contraction of opposing muscle groups resulting in abnormal postures, repetitive movements, and other kinesthetic symptoms. Dystonia can be located in one muscle group, as is the case with blepharospasm, a condition in which there is an involuntary twitching of the eyelid that causes strange blinking patterns and even functional blindness. Another dystonia, laryngeal dystonia, is characterized by abnormal contractions in the larynx, or larynx. Patients with the disorder tend to have a “choking” quality to their voice or sometimes fail to vocalize above a whisper. Writer’s or musician’s cramp is characterized as an activity-specific dystonia that may eventually overlap with other areas such as eating or performing other activities of daily living.
Huntington’s disease, a genetic disorder, is easily recognized by its hyperkinesia symptoms. The abnormal movements are called “chorea” when they are present in this specific diagnosis. Choreas are sometimes the first symptoms of the degenerative disease, and the severity of the abnormal movements increases over time. Often, chorea progresses and inhibits the individual’s ability to walk, talk, and think coherently. There is no cure for Huntington’s disease, but some medications help slow the progression and reduce abnormal movements.
Restless legs syndrome is a hyperkinesis disease. Patients with the disorder experience uncomfortable sensations in their legs, making them want to move. This can be debilitating because the symptoms are often worse at night and the patient can suffer from significant sleep deprivation. Medications that help relax the nerves associated with the condition provide relief for some patients.
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