Dystonia is an often devastating neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that force certain parts of the body into abnormal, contorted, sometimes painful, movements or postures. The causes of dystonia are unclear. There are few treatment options for dystonia patients; no known cure exists for the disease.
Dystonia affects approximately 250,000 people in the U.S., making it the third most common movement disorder, following essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. Dystonia can affect young children to older adults.¹
¹http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/dystonia.asp (accessed April 15th, 2008)
