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Focal dystonia

Focal dystonia is a neurological condition affecting a muscle or muscles in a part of the body causing an undesirable muscular contraction or twisting. For example, in focal hand dystonia, the fingers either curl into the palm or extend outward without control. This is caused by misfiring of neurons, causing the contractions. Though the condition expresses itself in a body part, it is thought that it actually originates in the basal ganglia, a portion of the brain. While usually painless, there are many instances when the condition does indeed cause pain for the patient. It is worth noting that focal dystonia often affects those who rely on fine motor skills - musicians, writers, surgeons, etc. more...

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For example, Leon Fleisher, of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, suffered from this affliction in his right hand. Another musician who had his career limited by focal dystonia is Alex Klein, formerly the first oboist of the Chicago Symphony. This condition can sometimes be treated, as it was with Fleisher, by giving periodic botox injections, which weaken the contracted muscle for a period of time, allowing the opposing muscles to move more normally but this is not successful in all cases.

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Reduction of cervical dystonia after an extended course of chiropractic manipulation: a case report
From Dynamic Chiropractic, 9/27/04 by Kukurin, George W

Objective: The diminution of the signs and symptoms of cervical dystonia following an extended course of specific chiropractic manipulation is described.

Clinical Features: A 38-year-old man had gross anterior-lateral torticollis, focal dystonia of the head and neck, and radicular-like pains which failed to respond to physical therapy, medication and injection.

Interventions and Outcomes: Two specific spinal manipulative technique systems unique to the chiropractic profession (Applied Biostructural Therapy and Atlas Coccygeal Technique) were applied to the patient. The patient's grading on a modified cervical dystonia scale dropped from a grade 16 to a grade 5 after an extended course of these specific chiropractic manipulative techniques.

Conclusions: The application of Advanced Biostructural Therapy (ABT) and Atlas Coccygeal (ACT) chiropractic techniques for management of cervical dystonia is presented. Substantial reduction in the cervical dystonia rating scale was observed with this approach, even after standard medical interventions had failed.

Key Indexing Terms: Chiropractic; Cervical Dystonia; Torticollis; Chiropractie Manipulation; Movement Disorder; Alternative Medicine.

George W. Kukurin, DC, DACAN

Copyright Dynamic Chiropractic Sep 27, 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved

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