Involuntary muscle movements refer to body movements that are outside of your control.
These movements may be mild, such as a slight eye twitch.
They can also be quite pronounced, affecting the arms, trunk, or neck.
Involuntary movements may be due to chronic conditions, nerve damage, drug reactions, or brain injury.
Tremors
Tremors are involuntary shaking in the hands, head, or other parts of the body.
Some tremors may worsen when you attempt basic movements.
About 5 million people in the United States are affected by tremors.
Myoclonus
Myoclonusrefers to fast jerks or twitches in a muscle or group of muscles.
It is considered a clinical sign and not a disease.
Myoclonus is usually the result of dysfunction in the cerebral cortex part of thebrainor the brainstem.
When myoclonus affects one muscle or group of muscles, they are known as focal myoclonus.
Myoclonus affecting several muscle groups is known as multifocal myoclonus.
There are several different types of myoclonus.
There are a number of chronic conditions that can lead to myoclonus.
It is characterized by repetitive involuntary movements like grimacing or eye blinking.
These movements are often mild and can be reversed by stopping the medication.
However, it is possible to experience chronic or permanent tardive dyskinesia.
Older people are more at risk than younger people for experiencing chronic TD.
Tics
Ticsare quick, repetitive movements or unwanted sounds.
They are usually associated with Tourette syndrome, a hereditary neurological condition.
The first symptoms are usuallyinvoluntary movements of the face, arms, and legs that occur frequently.
A person experiencing verbal tics sometimes uses obscene words or gestures.
This can make socialization quite difficult for a young person.
Tics are usually present between the ages of 6 and 15.
In most cases, they resolve by a person’s early 20s.
Athetosis
Athetosisdescribes slow, writhing movements, which usually affect the arms and hands.
A person experiencing athetosis often puts their body into uncomfortable, twisted motions involuntarily.
Athetosis can begin at any age and often does not improve on its own.
It is usually associated with chronic conditions likecerebral palsy, Huntingtons disease, and Wilsons disease.
It is brought on by an irregularity in the basal ganglia part of the brain.
Twitches
Muscle twitchesoccur when the muscles unexpectedly tighten or relax.
Twitches are very common, and just about every one of us has experienced them.
Mild forms of twitches include having hiccups.
It is also possible for twitches to have an underlying medical cause such asepilepsyor Parkinsons disease.
What Causes Involuntary Muscle Movements?
Involuntary muscle movements are triggered by a variety of conditions.
Your primary healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist such as a neurologist or aneurosurgeon.
Treating Involuntary Muscle Movements
Treatment for involuntary movements depends on the cause.
Involuntary movements may be treated with medications, surgery,deep brain stimulation, or behavioral therapy.
Exercises your physical therapist may recommend include swimming, walking, stretching, and balance exercises.
These exercises can help slow the damage done by involuntary movements, as well as promote coordination.
This is especially helpful if you have become more prone to falls due to your involuntary movements.
Some cases of involuntary movements do not have a cure.
Tardive dyskinesia, for example, is triggered by medication use.
The only treatment is switching to a new class of antipsychotic drugs.
This often helps reverse the condition, but it is not always effective.
Some, such as tics, usually resolve on their own during a person’s 20s.
Others are chronic and require ongoing treatment.
Talk with your neurologist about what is causing your involuntary movements and how to treat them.
Summary
A wide range of conditions can cause involuntary movements.
They may be small, such as eye twitching, or affect large areas of the body like athetosis.
Involuntary jerking movements are known as myoclonus or twitching.
Most of us have experienced mild twitching, such as hiccups or jumping when we feel startled.
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