Movement Disorders

Diagnosis

To diagnose a movement disorder, your healthcare professional starts with a physical exam and a review of your symptoms. Your medical history is also taken into account.

Additional tests may be recommended to confirm a diagnosis or rule out other causes:
• Blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies, thyroid function, and other conditions
• Genetic tests to identify inherited conditions that may cause movement disorders
• Imaging tests, including MRI, CT, or PET scans
• Electromyography (EMG) to measure electrical activity in muscles
• Dopamine transporter (DAT) scan to assist in diagnosing parkinsonism

Treatment

Treatment for movement disorders focuses on managing symptoms and addressing underlying causes when possible.

Options may include:
• Medicines to control symptoms, sometimes used in combination
• Botox injections for conditions such as dystonia or essential tremor
• Treating an underlying medical condition that is causing the movement disorder
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy to improve function and quality of life

In severe cases, surgery may be considered:
• Deep brain stimulation can be an option for essential tremor or Parkinson’s disease to reduce symptoms and improve motor function