1. Home
  2. Dystonia Program

Dystonia Program

Experts from the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at BIDMC are leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of dystonia, a rare movement disorder characterized by excessive pulling of muscles, leading to twisting movements or abnormal postures. Dystonia may be treated with a combination of oral medications, botulinum toxin injections (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport and Myobloc), speech therapy, physical therapy and more. Our multidisciplinary team will work with you to confirm the diagnosis and to create an individualized treatment plan that addresses your symptoms to improve quality of life.

Programs and Services

Our multidisciplinary team will work with you to confirm your diagnosis and to create an individualized treatment plan that addresses your symptoms to improve quality of life. Dystonia may be treated with a combination of oral medications, injectable medications such as botulinum toxin, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more.

Botulinum Toxin

Botulinum toxin injections, such as Botox, Xeomin, Dysport and Myobloc, are used to reduce the excess muscle activity caused by dystonia. When considering botulinum toxin injections as a treatment, it is extremely important to be evaluated and treated by a physician specially trained in this procedure.

The art of these injections requires careful selection of the type of toxin, the amount of botulinum toxin, and the muscles involved in the dystonia. We partner with our colleagues in the Division of Head & Neck Surgery at BIDMC to offer this treatment to our patients.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation is an approved surgical treatment for patients with dystonia when medications are no longer adequate. Some patients with dystonia benefit from a surgical treatment called globus pallidus deep brain stimulation, or GPi DBS. This treatment involves an electrical stimulation of the brain. Learn more about DBS for Dystonia.

Research & Clinical Trials

BIDMC is part of the Dystonia Coalition, an international collaboration of medical researchers and patient advocacy groups that are working to find better treatments and a cure for dystonia. Current research includes:

  • Focal dystonia, including cranial dystonia/Meige Syndrome (including blepharospasm)
  • Jaw or tongue dystonia
  • Laryngeal dystonia (including spasmodic dysphonia) with diagnosis confirmed by nasolaryngoscopy
  • Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)
  • Limb dystonia (including writer’s cramp and musician’s dystonia)
  • Segmental dystonia
  • Generalized dystonia
  • Hemi-dystonia