Evaluation and management of the primary dystonia patient

INTRODUCTION Dystonia is a syndrome of sustained, repetitive, patterned muscle contractions producing twisting (e.g., torticollis) or squeezing (e.g., blepharospasm) movements, or abnormal postures that may be present at rest, with changing postures, or when performing a specifi c motor activity. Severity and extent of involvement, however, can vary considerably from task-specifi c contractions of a single limb to continuous and generalized contraction of limb and axial muscles.