Writer's Cramp

Writer's cramp (WC) is the most common focal hand dystonia. It is characterized by abnormal, involuntary movements of the hand that occur mainly or exclusively with writing, with overflow to muscles that are not normally involved in this task. Although often regarded as a sporadic disorder that occurs in the setting of frequent writing, an underlying genetic predisposition has been demonstrated in some patients. The pathophysiology of WC is complex, and appears to involve motor and sensory systems as well as sensorimotor integration. Knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of WC has been helpful in designing novel therapeutic approaches. .