Dystonia

Overview

Dystonia is a rare movement disorder in which you have involuntary muscle contractions that cause repetitive or twisting movements or abnormal postures. Dystonia may be generalized (affecting most or all of your body), focal (involving one area of your body), segmental (involving two adjacent areas of your body) or other less common types. Some types of dystonia are inherited.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for dystonia

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in nervous system conditions (neurologists) and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons) have expertise and experience treating people with dystonia. Doctors trained in movement disorders treat people with dystonia and other movement disorders.
• Individualized care. Your doctor will tailor your care to your individual needs. Your treatment depends on the type of dystonia you have.
• Team approach. An integrated team of doctors collaborates to provide your treatment in a caring environment.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise treating dystonia with several options, including medications, botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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Read more about diagnosis and treatment of dystonia.