Self-Perceived Postural Shift in Cervical Dystonia Patients

• DOI: atena

• Palavras-chave: atena

• Keywords: Dystonias, Cervical Dystonia, Bodily Perception, Botulinic Toxin.

• Abstract:

  Background: Dystonia is a

  neurological syndrome characterized by

  involuntary muscle contractions, leading to

  repetitive torsion movements and postural

  alterations. Aims:The purpose of this study is to

  evaluate whether patients with cervical dystonia

  present alterations in their cervical body shift

  perception. Methods: This study included

  patients with cervical dystonia with no evidence

  of degeneration or structural lesion, isolated

  dystonia, being treated at the botulinic toxin

  clinic. The exclusion criteria were patients with

  combined dystonia, dementia, osteoarticular

  problems or other neurological problem. A

  control group composed of patient’s relatives or

  companions without dystonia, who fulfill the same

  inclusion and exclusion criteria, was evaluated.

  Every patient was evaluated regarding to

  his cervical body perception, severity of his

  dystonia, cognition, and depression. Results:

  Only 11% of patients with dystonia present

  correct perception of their posture whereas the

  same was observed in approximately 80% of

  the control group. Conclusions: Patients with

  cervical dystonia present bad awareness to the

  cervical shiftperception in relation to individuals

  without dystonia. This fact may be related to

  physiopathogenic mechanisms of the dystonia.

• Número de páginas: 15