Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Dystonia UK
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Membership Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • The team
    • Annual reports and accounts
    • News
  • About dystonia
    • What is dystonia?
    • What causes dystonia?
    • Types of dystonia
  • Help and support
    • How we support you
    • Diagnosis and treatment
    • Just diagnosed
    • Your local support group
    • Our conferences
  • Membership
    • Why become a member
    • Join or renew your membership
  • Support us
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
    • Other ways to give
    • Partner with us
    • Volunteer for us
    • Campaigns
    • Your stories
    • Shop
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • one-sided-body-dystonia
  1. About dystonia
  2. Types of dystonia
  3. One sided body dystonia

One sided body dystonia

Other names: Hemidystonia

Type: Affects one side of the body

Hemidystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterised by continuous or intermittent muscle contractions which cause abnormal, often painful, repetitive movements in one side of the body, usually the arm and leg and/or face.

Hemidystonia can either be:

  • acquired (secondary) – a dystonia that appears to have a specific cause such as drug reaction, brain injury, or as a symptom of another neurological or metabolic disorder or;
  • idiopathic – a dystonia with no known or clear cause

In acquired hemidystonia the first symptoms are frequently a sudden onset of weakness on one side of the body. Dystonia may then appear as the weakness recovers – but the dystonia does not tend to spread after this. The dystonia may appear immediately after the brain damage or weeks, months or even years later and there is often a significant delay in cases of perinatal and head injury.

Idiopathic hemidystonia may spread more slowly. Symptoms may spread through the affected side during the first few months to years, followed by an eventual plateau and stabilisation.

Hemidystonia should be diagnosed and treated by a neurologist specialising in movement disorders.

What are the symptoms?

Expand

Usually hemidystonia occurs in the side of the body opposite to the side where the brain is damaged.

Symptoms on one side of the body include:

  • twisting of the leg and arm
  • turning in of the foot and/or leg and/or arm
  • muscle spasms in the face or mouth causing unusual movements
  • tremor

Stress and anxiety are known to exacerbate the symptoms.

Published: 1st June, 2020

Author: Bernie McMahon

Related topics:
  • One sided body dystonia
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Who does it affect?

Expand
  • Hemidystonia usually affects those suffering from a drug reaction or brain injury, or as a symptom of another neurological or metabolic disorder.
  • Most commonly it affects those who have had a stroke, closely followed by those who have gone through trauma at birth and or have a head injury.

Published: 2nd June, 2020

Author: Bernie McMahon

Related topics:
  • One sided body dystonia
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

What are the causes?

Expand

Most cases are caused by another underlying condition, such as:

  • stroke
  • tumour
  • problems at birth (cerebral palsy)
  • head injuries
  • a problem with blood vessels and even multiple sclerosis (MS).

Hemidystonia can occur when one of these conditions causes damage to just one of side of the brain (the side of the brain opposite to the side of the body with hemidystonia).

In idiopathic hemidystonia there is no detectable abnormality on any brain scans or investigations so it is uncertain both why the dystonia has appeared and why it is only on one side of the body.

Published: 3rd June, 2020

Updated: 24th June, 2020

Author: Bernie McMahon

Related topics:
  • One sided body dystonia
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

What are the common treatments?

Expand
  • Botulinum toxin injections
  • Oral medication
  • Deep brain stimulation

Published: 4th June, 2020

Author: Bernie McMahon

Related topics:
  • One sided body dystonia
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How will it affect my life?

Expand

You may need to find ways to adapt and might have to learn new ways to complete everyday tasks. However, it is possible to live well with the condition and Dystonia UK is here to support you through all stages including initial onset, diagnosis, finding treatment and beyond.

Published: 5th June, 2020

Author: Bernie McMahon

Related topics:
  • One sided body dystonia
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

You might also be interested in

Expand

  

Published: 6th June, 2020

Updated: 25th June, 2020

Author: Bernie McMahon

Related topics:
  • One sided body dystonia
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Back to top

Showing 10 of 6

Latest

  • Covid-19 Vaccinations

    Covid-19 Vaccinations

    Our Medical Advisors share their thoughts on the Covid-19 vaccination.

  • Office closed for festive season

    Office closed for festive season

    Our office is now closed until 4th January 2021.

  • Dystonia UK Presents: A Strictly Special

  • Dystonia UK Presents: A Strictly Special

    Dystonia UK Presents: A Strictly Special

    Dystonia UK cordially invites you to join us as Strictly Star Robin Windsor hosts two hours of fabulous fun festivities starting at 16:30 on 21 December.

Most read

  • Make a donation

  • Callum's story

    Callum's story

    Callum's story, as told by his dad Neil. Callum is a young man with Down Syndrome who has neck dystonia (cervical dystonia).

  • Membership

  • Research update

  • Lockdown Unlocked

    Lockdown Unlocked

    Gemma-Louise Stevenson, Tully Kearney and Tegan Vincent-Cooke discuss a variety of topics as part of our Lockdown Unlocked series.

  • Covid-19 Vaccinations

    Covid-19 Vaccinations

    Our Medical Advisors share their thoughts on the Covid-19 vaccination.

  • Date and times

  • What are the symptoms?

  • What does my ticket include?

  • Ticket prices

Tag cloud

Airdrie DS Group Cambridgeshire DS Group Edinburgh DS Group Hertfordshire DS Group Kent DS Group Lancashire & Fylde DS Group Liverpool DS Group London and Surrey DS Group Manchester DS Group North East DS Group North Shropshire Borders DS Group Northern Ireland DS Group Oxford DS Group Torbay & Exeter DS Group West Midlands DS Group West Sussex DS Group

Subscribe to receive regular emails from Dystonia UK

* indicates required
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Update your communication preferences


  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Registered office

89 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7TP
[email protected]
020 7793 3651

Dystonia UK is the operating name of The Dystonia Society. The Dystonia Society is registered as a charity in England and Wales (1062595) and in Scotland (SC042127)


Help Dystonia UK

Donate Volunteer Fundraise