Hyperkinesis in adults

Until the middle of the last century, it was believed that hyperkinesis is a variant of neurosis. But research in neurology has helped determine that this is one of the manifestations of serious nervous diseases.

What is hyperkinesis

Hyperkinesis is excessive violent motor acts that occur against the will of the patient. These include tremor (trembling), other movements.

Causes of hyperkinesis in adults

Hyperkinesis is not a disease, but a syndrome (a set of certain symptoms, manifestations). They are signs of damage to the nervous system due to:

• genetic abnormalities;
• organic diseases of the brain;
• various severe infections;
• toxicosis;
• head injuries;
• side effects from certain medications;
• degenerative changes.

Hyperkinesis due to the occurrence can be divided into 3 groups:

Primary – these are hereditary damages of the nervous system: Wilson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, olivopontocerebellar degeneration.

Secondary – they arise due to various problems, damage to the nervous system received during life (traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, carbon monoxide poisoning, the consequences of alcoholism, thyrotoxicosis, rheumatism, tumors, etc.).

Psychogenic – these are hyperkinesias that occur as a result of acute psychotraumas, chronic lesions – hysterical neuroses, psychoses, anxiety disorders. These forms are very rare, but not excluded.

Manifestations of hyperkinesis in adults

The key manifestations of pathology are motor acts that occur against the will of the person himself. They are described as an irresistible desire to move in this unusual way. In addition, there are additional symptoms that are typical of the underlying disease. The most common manifestations:

• Tremor or shaking – alternating contractions of the flexor-extensor muscles, having both high and low amplitude. They can be in different parts of the body, disappearing during movement or at rest (or, conversely, intensifying).
• Nervous tic – sharp, jerky muscle contractions with low amplitude. Tics are usually localized in one muscle group, they can be partially suppressed by volitional effort. There are blinking, twitching of the corner of the eye, blinking, turning of the head, contraction of the corner of the mouth, shoulder.
• Myoclonus – contractions in a chaotic manner of individual muscle fibers. Due to them, some muscle groups can make involuntary movements, jerks.
• Chorea – non-rhythmic jerky movements produced with a large amplitude. With them, it is extremely difficult to move arbitrarily, they usually start with the limbs.
• ballism – sharp and involuntary rotational movements in the shoulder or hip, due to which the limb makes throwing movements.
• Blepharospasm – a sharp involuntary closure of the eyelid due to an increase in muscle tone.
• Oromandibular dystonia – involuntary closure of the jaws with the opening of the mouth when chewing, laughing or talking.
• Writing spasm – a sharp contraction of the muscles in the area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe hand when writing, often along with trembling of the hand.
• Athetosis – slow wriggling movements in the fingers, foot, hands, face.
• Torsion dystonia – slow twisting movements in the torso area.
• Facial hemispasm – muscle spasm begins with a century, passing to the entire half of the face.

Types of hyperkinesis in adults

Hyperkinesias are different, depending on which part of the nervous system and extrapyramidal pathway is damaged. Variants differ in the rate of movements and features of the so-called “motor pattern”, the time of occurrence and the nature of these movements.

Neurologists distinguish several groups of hyperkinesis, according to the localization of their pathological basis.

Damage in the subcortical formations – their manifestations will be in the form of chorea, torsion dystonia, athetosis or ballism. Human movements are characterized by the absence of any rhythm, rather complex, unusual movements, impaired muscle tone (dystonia) and wide variations in movements.

Damage to the brain stem – in this case, there will be a typical tremor (trembling), the appearance of myorhythmias, tics, facial spasms, myoclonus. They are characterized by rhythm, movements are relatively simple and stereotyped.

Damage to cortical and subcortical structures – they are characterized by seizures of epilepsy, generalized hyperkinesis, Hunt’s dyssynergy, moclonus.

If we consider the speed of movements that involuntarily occur in the body, we can distinguish:

• fast forms of hyperkinesias are tremors, tics, ballism, chorea or myoclonus – they usually decrease muscle tone;
• slow forms are torsion dystonias, athetosis – muscle tone usually increases with them.

Based on their variant of their occurrence, we can distinguish:

• spontaneous hyperkinesis – they occur on their own, without the influence of any factors;
• promotional hyperkinesis – they are provoked by the performance of a certain movement, the adoption of a certain posture;
• reflex hyperkinesis – they appear as a reaction to external stimuli (touching certain points, tapping on the muscle);
• induced are partially volitional movements, they can be restrained by a person to a certain level.

With the flow:

• constant movements that can only disappear during sleep (this is, for example, trembling or athetosis);
• paroxysmal, which occur in periods limited in time (these are tics, myoclonus).

Treatment of hyperkinesis in adults

In order to effectively eliminate hyperkinesis, it is necessary to determine their causes. The doctor notes the involuntary movements themselves during the examination and clarifies with the patient. But it is important to understand at what level the nervous system is affected and whether its recovery is possible.

Diagnostics

The main diagnostic plan involves a consultation with a neurologist. The doctor evaluates the type of hyperkinesis, determines the accompanying symptoms, mental functions, intelligence. Also nominated:

• EEG – to assess the electrical activity of the brain and search for pathological foci;
• Electroneuromyography – to determine muscle pathologies;
• MRI or CT of the brain – to determine organic lesions: hematomas, tumors, inflammation;
• assessment of cerebral blood flow using ultrasound of the vessels of the head and neck, MRI;
• biochemical blood and urine tests;
• genetic counseling.

Modern treatments

With a pronounced kinetic component of tremor, as well as tremor of the head and vocal folds, clonazepam is effective.

For cerebellar tremor, which is difficult to treat, GABAergic drugs are usually used, as well as limb weighting with a bracelet.

Prevention of hyperkinesis in adults at home

“There are no specific measures to prevent the development of the disease,” emphasizes neurologist Valentina Kuzmina. – Prevention of the deterioration of an existing disease is aimed primarily at limiting psycho-emotional stress and stress. It is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle – good nutrition, the right mode of rest and work, etc.

Popular questions and answers

Why hyperkinesis is dangerous, when you need to see a doctor, whether you need to take medicines and whether you can heal yourself, she said neurologist Valentina Kuzmina.