What is dyskinesia?
As a symptom of several medical conditions, dyskinesia is the term used to describe unintended, involuntary and uncontrollable movements. These include twitches, jerking, twisting or simple restlessness; it does not include tremor. In Parkinson’s the excess movement of dyskinesia is a total contrast to the bradykinesia or slow movement and rigidity so typical of the disease.
Whilst different parts of the body can be affected, the most common areas are the limbs and trunk. Dyskinesia affects each person differently both in its timing, frequency and severity. Some find dyskinesia interferes dramatically with their activities, but others may find the movements to be mild and barely noticeable. Some may be affected for a large part of the day, but others may be affected only just before or after taking medication. It is often the case that the observer is more disturbed than the person experiencing the dyskinesia.
Some people experience sustained involuntary muscle contraction which causes the body to go into spasm. This is not dyskinesia, but is known as dystonia. Generally speaking, dyskinetic movements are rapid and dance-like, known as chorea or choreiform movements. Dystonia is slower, painful and twisting, forcing the body into unnatural postures. There are, of course, areas where these two disorders overlap, and it is also possible to experience them simultaneously.
