Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders

Hyperkinetic movement disorders can be parsed into three categories: dystonia, tremors, and non-rhythmic jerks (myoclonus, tics, and chorea). Understanding the phenomenology of these disorders is critical to the diagnostic workup. Many neurodegenerative, genetic, and metabolic conditions can produce various permutations of these movements. Age, ethnicity, family history, quality of onset (i.e. acute, insidious, rapidly progressive), presence of concomitant neurologic signs and/or encephalopathy enable contextualization of the movements and permit effective pattern recognition. Deciphering hyperkinesias can be challenging, which stresses the importance of keen observation and diagnostic rigor.