Posted: October 15th, 2023

Understanding and Treating Children’s Movement Disorders

Understanding and Treating Children’s Movement Disorders

Children’s movement disorders are neurological conditions that affect the speed, fluency, quality and ease of movement in children. These disorders can be benign or severe, and can have various causes, such as genetic, metabolic, infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune or medication-related factors. Some examples of movement disorders in children are dystonia, ataxia, chorea, myoclonus, tremor, parkinsonism, spasticity and tic disorders.

Dystonia is a condition that causes abnormal muscle contractions, resulting in twisting movements and awkward postures. Dystonia can affect one or more body parts, and can be triggered by specific actions or occur at rest. Dystonia can cause pain, discomfort and functional impairment in children.

Ataxia is a condition that causes impaired coordination of movements, affecting balance, gait, speech and eye movements. Ataxia can be caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls movement. Ataxia can be inherited or acquired due to infections, toxins or other factors.

Chorea is a condition that causes irregular, flowing movements that resemble dancing. Chorea can affect any body part, and can be incorporated into voluntary movements. Chorea can be caused by genetic conditions, such as Huntington’s disease or Wilson’s disease, or by infections, such as rheumatic fever or Sydenham’s chorea.

Myoclonus is a condition that causes brief, involuntary muscle jerks or twitches. Myoclonus can occur in normal children during sleep or when startled, but it can also be a sign of an underlying neurological disorder. Myoclonus can be caused by epilepsy, metabolic disorders, brain lesions or degenerative diseases.

Tremor is a condition that causes rhythmic shaking or trembling of a body part. Tremor can occur at rest or during movement, and can affect one or more limbs. Tremor can be inherited, such as essential tremor, or acquired due to medications, stress or other factors.

Parkinsonism is a condition that causes slowness of movement, stiffness of muscles, tremor and impaired balance. Parkinsonism is rare in children, and can be caused by genetic conditions, such as juvenile parkinsonism or dopa-responsive dystonia, or by brain injuries, infections or toxins.

Spasticity is a condition that causes increased muscle tone and stiffness, resulting in reduced range of motion and difficulty with movements. Spasticity is usually caused by damage to the motor cortex or the spinal cord, which control voluntary movements. Spasticity can be associated with cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injury or spinal cord injury.

Tic disorders are conditions that cause repeated movements or sounds that are compulsive and follow a specific pattern. Tics can affect any body part or vocalization, and can vary in frequency and severity. Tics can be transient or chronic, and can be associated with psychological disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Treatment of children’s movement disorders depends on the type, cause and severity of the disorder. Treatment options may include medications, botulinum toxin injections, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), deep brain stimulation (DBS) or surgery. The goal of treatment is to reduce the symptoms of the disorder and improve the quality of life of the child.

Works Cited

Bamford NS. “Pediatric Movement Disorders.” Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/pediatric-movement-disorders (accessed October 15th 2023).

“Movement Disorders.” Boston Children’s Hospital. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/movement-disorders (accessed October 15th 2023).

“Movement Disorders in Children.” Children’s Wisconsin. https://childrenswi.org/medical-care/neuroscience/conditions/movement-disorders (accessed October 15th 2023).

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