Dystonia: alleviating manoeuvres

Definition

• These are tricks that temporarily alleviate dystonia
• They usually work in primary dystonia
• The trick is also called geste antagoniste
• The manoeuvre however doesn’t have to be opposite or antagonistic to the direction of the dystonia
• It may be effective in functional dystonia

Effects

Benefits

Classification

Tricks for cervical dystonia

Tricks for blepharospasm

Tricks for Meige syndrome

Tricks for oromandibular dystonia

Tricks for writer’s cramp

Tricks for laryngeal dystonia

References

1. Ramos VF, Karp BI, Hallett M. Tricks in dystonia: ordering the complexity. JNNP 2014; 85:987-993.
2. Lagrand TJ, Almuwais A, Lehn AC. 'Tricked' sensory trick: a geste antagoniste in functional dystonia. BMJ Case Rep 2022; 15:e248779.
3. Patel N, Hanfelt J, Marsh L, Jankovic J; members of the Dystonia Coalition. Alleviating manoeuvres (sensory tricks) in cervical dystonia. JNNP 2014; 85:882-884.
4. Pandey S, Soni G, Sarma N. Sensory tricks in primary blepharospasm and idiopathic cervical dystonia. Neurol India 2017; 65:532-536. 
5. Krack P, Schneider S, Deuschl G. Geste device in tardive dystonia with retrocollis and opisthotonic posturing. Mov Disord 1998; 13:155-157.
6. And 4 more. Subscribe to see the full list

Related checklists

• Dystonia: classifications
• Dystonia: clinical features
• Dystonia: differential diagnosis
• Toe walking