Our Medical Experts
Max Healthcare is home to 4800+ eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
Find a Doctor
Dysdiadochokinesia Treatment in Delhi, India
Overview
Dysdiadochokinesia is a medical term that is used to describe the difficulties faced by individuals while producing fast and alternative movements. Individuals can normally transition between opposing actions quickly and in a coordinated manner, such as while unscrewing a light bulb. A person with Dysdiadochokinesia, on the other hand, may notice that their muscular reaction is delayed or uncomfortable, particularly in the upper and lower limbs. Poor coordination in tapping one's finger or foot quickly, switching muscle postures from flexion (bent) to extension, and opening and closing one's hand are examples of this (straight). It is a sign of an underlying health condition, not a disease itself.
Symptoms
Dysdiadochokinesia mainly affects the three major body parts of the victims:
- Muscles in the lower limbs
- Muscles in the upper limbs
- Muscles that control speech
This means one can experience the symptoms of Dysdiadochokinesia in one or more of those areas. Other symptoms that a patient can experience are as follows:
- Poor coordination between the hands, arms, and legs
- Change in balance while walking
- Slowness
- Awkward rigid movements
- Incomprehensible speech
- Difficulty in changing direction due to having difficulty in stopping in one direction and starting another in the opposite direction
A person with this health issue also finds it difficult to flip their palm over multiple times on a hard, flat surface or to screw or unscrew a light bulb. They may also have problems fast repeating one to three syllables in a sequence.
Causes
Cerebellar dysfunction is observed as a common cause of Dysdiadochokinesia. The cerebellum is considered an important region of the human brain because it has control of muscular coordination, balance, and other activities like walking and running. When the cerebellum is affected by an underlying disease, the victim can experience difficulties in limb control, stability, and speech. Dysdiadochokinesia can be caused by a variety of conditions that affect the brain, including:
- Ataxic dysarthria
- Friedreich's Ataxia
- Multiple sclerosis
As Dysdiadochokinesia is a symptom of poor coordination or Cerebellar ataxia, it can be caused by a number of disorders that have the credibility of damaging the cerebellum. For example, metabolic dysfunction, inflammatory illness, infections, vascular tissues, and brain tumours can affect the cerebellum of the human brain. The cerebellum can also be harmed by inherited brain diseases, including Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Dysdiadochokinesia can also be developed as a result of medication consumption, such as sedatives and barbiturates, as well as toxins from alcohol, recreational drugs, and botulinum. Finally, vitamin B, E, and thiamine deficits can raise the chance of developing Cerebellar dysfunction.
Diagnosis
A healthcare professional can perform a variety of physical tests to determine the existence and amount of Dysdiadochokinesia within the patient's body. Physical tests to verify your capacity to swiftly switch motions may be recommended by the doctor in the early phases. These tests are usually carried out at a doctor's office by a neurologist. Other tests that have been carried out for diagnosing these health issues are as follows:
- Gait test: The patients are asked to walk normally and then asked to walk heel to toe
- Point-to-point movement evaluation: Patients are instructed to touch their nose with one finger and then contact the outstretched finger of the person doing the test with the same finger as rapidly as possible
- Romberg test: With his heels together and his eyes closed, a person will remain motionless. He might develop DDK if he loses his equilibrium in this posture
- Rapidly alternating movement evaluation: The patient places one hand's palm on a flat surface and flips the hand palm side up, then back to palm side down as quickly as possible
- Heel shin test: One heel is placed on one shin just below the knee, and the heel is then moved down the shin to the foot. At that time, the patient should try to move quickly and in a coordinated manner
A person with Dysdiadochokinesia will be unable to perform these tests in a correct manner as their movements will become clumsy.
Complication
Dysdiadochokinesia patients may face major repercussions if their condition does not improve. Along with physical health, it negatively impacts the mental well-being of the patients. One of the most serious issues that patients suffer is social difficulties. Relationships with friends and family may be harmed as a result of communication issues, as it can cause speech disorders. Studies have also shown that patients often start feeling depressed, which leads them to experience social isolation.
Risk factor
Individuals of any age group can develop Dysdiadochokinesia. However, studies have shown that small children can have Dysdiadochokinesia without any additional focalising neurological abnormalities or mental impairment. If tested, children under the age of 13 can exhibit Dysdiadochokinesia in 8 to 20% of instances. It reaches its peak between the ages of 7 and 8. Patients who have symptoms of this condition should get a correct diagnosis to figure out what's wrong. Doctors can take the necessary actions based on the scene after a proper diagnosis.
Treatment
Physical therapy is a common approach for assisting patients with Dysdiadochokinesia. Physical exercises such as warm-up and jogging help in increasing the range of motion, decreasing stiffness, dilating the blood vessels, and improving mental focus. Physical therapies which are further advantageous for reducing the impact of the disease are as follows:
- Romberg exercise
- Balance training
- Unilateral stance
- Strengthening exercises
- Takeaway
Prognosis
Besides taking medical assistance, individuals with Dysdiadochokinesia should take part in physical exercises such as strength training, balancing exercises, and other activities that help them enhance their motor functioning. Speech and occupational therapy are also considered helpful in some circumstances to keep the patients restricted from feeling depressed or isolated. Support from close ones such as family and friends is also helpful for patients with Dysdiadochokinesia as it is useful for the patients to stay mentally strong.
Review
Reviewed by Dr. Amit Batra, Associate Director - Neurosciences, Neurology.
Other Conditions & Treatments
- Acalculia
- Agnsiao
- Akinesia Treatment
- Alexia
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Aneurysm
- Anomia
- Anosognosia
- Apraxia
- Ataxia
- Athetosis
- Ballismus
- Blepharospasm
- Bradykinesia
- Brain Stroke
- Brain Tumour
- Cataplexy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chorea (Huntington's Chorea Disease)
- Dementia
- Dysarthria
- Dysgraphia
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy
- Febrile Seizure
- Functional movement disorder
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Neuromodulation
- Neuromuscular Disorders/Diseases
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Spasticity
- Status Epilepticus
- Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome (TSC)
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Vertigo
Get Second Opinion
Our Medical Experts
Max Healthcare is home to 4800+ eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
