A case of idiopathic exercise-induced axial dystonia with ipsilateral upper extremity atrophy

ABSTRACT

Torsion dystonia (TD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by prolonged spasms of muscle contraction, which distort the body into typical dystonic posture. The pathological or biochemical basis of either the familial types or of most sporadic forms of idiopathic or primary TD is unknown. We present a 40-year old man who showed a kinesigenic axial dystonia with ipsilateral upper extremity atrophy for 14 years. The symptoms and signs were spontaneous onset, nonprogrwsive course, and induced by voluntary activity but relieved by rest and sleep and responded to trihexyphenidyl medication.