Hand Therapy > Volume 11, Number 3 > Pp. 72-78

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Butler, K. Articles by Rosenkranz, K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Focal hand dystonia affecting musicians. Part I: An overview of epidemiology, pathophysiology and medical treatments

Katherine Butler, BAp(Sc) Occupational Therapy, AHT (BAHT), A MusA(Flute) 

The Princess Grace Hospital, London, UK

Dr Karin Rosenkranz, MD

Sobell Department, Institute of Neurology, Queen's Square, London, UK

Katherine Butler, Clinical Specialist in Hand Therapy, 30 Devonshire Street, in association with The Princess Grace Hospital, London W1G 6PU, Tel + 44 20 7908 3660, Fax + 44 20 7908 3661, Email: Katherine.Butler{at}HCAHealthcare.co.uk

In 1911, Oppenheim coined the term ‘dystonia’ to describe disordered motor control, characterised by an association of hypotonia and tonic muscle spasm. Focal hand dystonia is one form of this disorder, in which symptoms are often task-specific and occur during skilled movements such as writing (writer's cramp) or playing a musical instrument (musician's cramp). Much research has been conducted on the pathophysiology of dystonia, but the underlying mechanisms still remain unclear. Hypotheseses about functional central nervous system alterations continue to gain more support. Scientific treatment-based publications on focal dystonia are sparse, and progress in evidence-based treatment options are necessary in order to assist this patient group. This paper will review the literature, documenting dystonia classification criteria, manifestations, pathophysiology and medical treatment techniques for musicians affected by focal hand dystonia.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?