World Movement Disorders Day 2023

Movement disorders are some of the most challenging diseases to diagnose and treat.

What is a movement disorder?

Movement disorders are neurological conditions causing abnormal movements, such as increased movement and/or decreased or slow movement. Movement disorders can affect motions you choose to make (voluntary) or cause uncontrolled movements (involuntary).

Every body movement, from lifting a limb to moving your tongue and talk, involves complex communication between the central nerve system (brain and spinal cord), motor nerves and skeletal muscles. Any damage to or malfunctions of the areas of the brain which control movement may result in a movement disorder.

There are several different movement disorders, and they vary in severity. Some only affect one area of the body, while others can affect most of the body.

What are abnormal movements?

There are two main types of abnormal movements: hyperkinetic movements and hypokinetic movements. A movement disorder can have both of these or just one.

Hyperkinetic movements involve increased muscle activity and movement affecting voluntary movement and causing involuntary movement. The word comes from 'hyper' meaning 'over' and 'kinetic' meaning 'motion'.

Hypokinetic movements involve decreased or slow muscle activity and movement affecting generally voluntary movement. 'Hypo' means 'below' or 'under'.

What are types of movement disorders?

There are different movement disorders, such as Tremor and essential tremor, Huntington’s disease, Multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia, Restless leg syndrome, Rett syndrome, Tourette syndrome and Myoclonus.

The two most common movement disorders are essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.

Movement disorders can be especially difficult to diagnose, treat, and understand. In the next 30 years, there will be a strong increase in the number of people affected by movement disorders and that is why we are promoting #MoveDisorder awareness!

The World Movement Disorders Day, taking place November 29, is an annual event to raise awareness about movement disorders managed by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society and its partners.