Movement - unpredictable or jerky
Jerky body movement is a condition in which a person makes fast movements that they cannot control and that have no purpose. These movements interrupt the person's normal movement or posture.
When abnormal movements are excessive, they are called ‘hyperkinetic’ movements and include myoclonus (jerking and twitching) and ballismus (violent flinging of extremities), chorea (slow, twisting, or continued movements), among others.
Considerations
This condition can affect one or both sides of the body. Typical movements of chorea include:
- Bending and straightening the fingers and toes
- Grimacing in the face
- Raising and lowering the shoulders
These movements do not usually repeat. They can look like they are being done on purpose. But the movements are not under the person's control. A person with chorea may look jittery or restless.
Chorea can be a painful condition, making it hard to do daily living activities.
Causes
There are many possible causes of unpredictable, jerky movements, including:
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (disorder that involves abnormal blood clotting)
- Benign hereditary chorea (a rare inherited condition)
- Disorders of calcium, glucose, or sodium metabolism
- Degenerative diseases (disorders that involve breakdown of nerve cells in the brain), such as Alzheimer disease and Huntington disease
- Medicines (such as levodopa, antidepressants, anticonvulsants)
- Polycythemia rubra vera (bone marrow disease)
- Sydenham chorea (movement disorder that occurs most often in children after infection with bacteria called group A streptococcus)
- Wilson disease (disorder that involves too much copper in the body)
- Pregnancy (chorea gravidarum)
- Stroke or lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxic brain injury)
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Systemic lupus erythematosus (disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue)
- Tardive dyskinesia (a condition that can be caused by medicines such as antipsychotic drugs)
- Thyroid disease
- Other rare disorders
Home Care
Treatment is aimed at the cause of the movements.
- If the movements are due to a medicine, the medicine should be stopped, if possible.
- If the movements are due to a disease, the disorder should be treated.
- If the movements are severe and affect the person's life, medicines such as tetrabenazine may help control them.
Excitement or fatigue can make hyperkinetic movement worse. Rest helps improve chorea. Try to reduce emotional stress.
Safety measures should also be taken to prevent injury from the involuntary movements.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if you have unexplained body motions that are unpredictable and do not go away.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will perform a physical exam. This will include a detailed examination of the nervous and muscle systems.
You'll be asked about your medical history and symptoms, including:
- What kind of movement occurs?
- What part of the body is affected?
- What other symptoms are there?
- Is there irritability?
- Is there weakness or paralysis?
Paralysis
Muscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Is there restlessness?
- Are there emotional problems?
- Are there facial tics?
Tests that may be ordered include:
- Blood tests such as metabolic panel, complete blood count (CBC), blood differential
Metabolic panel
The basic metabolic panel is a group of blood tests that provides information about your body's metabolism.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleComplete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleBlood differential
The blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood tests for heavy metals, ceruloplasmin, and copper
- CT scan of the head or affected area
CT scan of the head
A head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - EEG (in rare cases)
- EMG and nerve conduction velocity (in rare cases)
- Genetic studies to help diagnose certain diseases, such as Huntington disease
- Lumbar puncture
Lumbar puncture
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - MRI of the head or affected area
MRI of the head
A head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Urinalysis
Urinalysis
Urinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...
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Treatment is based on the type of hyperkinetic movement disorder the person has. If medicines are used, the provider will decide which medicine to prescribe based on the person's symptoms and test results.
Reviewed By
Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Jankovic J, Lang AE. Diagnosis and assessment of Parkinson disease and other movement disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 24.
Okun MS, Lang AE. Other movement disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 382.