Movement disorders are a group of nervous system (neurologic) conditions that affect how you move. These conditions may cause either increased movements or reduced or slow movements, or involuntary movement. 

Common types of movement disorders include:

• Ataxia: This movement disorder affects the part of the brain that controls coordinated movement. Ataxia may cause uncoordinated or clumsy balance, speech or limb movements, and other symptoms.
• Dystonia: This condition involves sustained involuntary muscle contractions with twisting, repetitive movements. Dystonia may affect the entire body or one part of the body.
• Huntington’s disease: This is an inherited, progressive disease that can be confirmed with genetic testing. Huntington’s disease has three components: uncontrolled movements, cognitive issues and psychiatric conditions.
• Parkinson’s disease: This slowly progressive disease causes tremor (shakiness), muscle stiffness, slow or decreased movement, or imbalance. It also may also cause other symptoms not related to movement, such as reduced sense of smell, constipation, acting out dreams and a decline in cognition.
• Parkinsonism: Parkinsonism is a general term for slowness of movement along with stiffness, tremor or loss of balance. There are many different causes. Parkinson’s disease and certain dopamine-blocking medications are the most common causes. Other causes include degenerative disorders such as multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy. Stroke or repeated head trauma also can cause parkinsonism.
• Restless legs syndrome: This movement disorder causes unpleasant feelings in the legs while relaxing or lying down, often relieved by movement.
• Torticollis (also called cervical dystonia): This condition causes the neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing the head to pull to one side or to tilt forward or backward. There may be shaking.
• Tourette syndrome: This is a neurologic condition that starts between childhood and teenage years and is associated with repetitive movements and vocal sounds.
• Tremor: This movement disorder causes rhythmic shaking of parts of the body, such as the hands, head or other body parts. The most common type is essential tremor.

Woman credits early diagnosis, specialized care for successful life with Parkinson’s disease

Dianne Steinert’s symptoms started in 2020. She was introduced to Jason L. Crowell, M.D., who diagnosed her with Parkinson’s disease in 2022 and set a specialized care plan in motion.

Read Dianne’s story

Types of Abnormal Movement

There are two kinds of abnormal movement:

• Hyperkinetic
• Hypokinetic

A movement disorder can include one or both of these.

Hyperkinetic movement disorders mean there is increased movement. It can affect voluntary movement (actions you choose to take) or cause involuntary movement (actions that happen without your control). Tremors and tics are two hyperkinetic movements.

Hypokinetic movement disorders involve decreased or slow movement. It generally affects voluntary movement. Hypokinetic brain conditions cause slowed movements, rigidity (stiffness), tremor or trouble with balance.

Do I Need a Movement Disorder Specialist?

If you notice unusual symptoms such as shaking hands or slower movements, you may want to consult your health care provider. If you are diagnosed with a movement disorder, a movement disorder specialist can help reduce your symptoms, help you be more comfortable and enhance your quality of life. The sooner you get this type of advanced care for movement disorders, the more likely you are to have better outcomes.

More patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease seek care at Norton Neuroscience Institute than any other provider in Louisville or Southern Indiana.

Treatment Options

Norton Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive care for patients with all types of movement disorders affecting the brain. Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center, located on the Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus,  offers comprehensive care of these complex medical conditions.

Neurologists, functional neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and physical therapists work together to create a treatment plan encompassing medical, surgical and rehabilitation options. Newer treatments and services available for movement disorders include levodopa infusion pump therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and a normal pressure hydrocephalus clinic.

Neurosurgeons are fellowship trained to surgically treat movement disorders through interventions such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). We offer both awake and asleep DBS. Thanks to advancements in technology, asleep DBS is possible using intraoperative MRI and CT scans that map the brain in three dimensions for more accurate targeting. Other potential benefits of asleep DBS include lower risk of hemorrhage and reduced anxiety — and patients do not have to stop their medication on the day of surgery. Follow-up care after DBS is offered as well. In addition, a dedicated patient navigator guides patients through their care journey, provides answers and connects them and their families with resources, including extensive support services, groups and classes.

Movement Disorders Specialists

Mohammad S Alsorogi, MD

Stroke, Movement Disorders Neurology, Neurology

(63)

Jason L Crowell, MD

Movement Disorders Neurology, Neurology

(488)

Bradley S Folley, PhD

Movement Disorders Neurology, Epilepsy Neurology, Neuropsychology

Justin T Phillips, MD

Movement Disorders Neurology, Neurology

(229)

Xaviera J Leak-Cotton, APRN

Movement Disorders Neurology

(223)

Leading the Region in Neurological Care

• Breakthrough essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease treatment: We are the first health care system in Kentucky  to offer high-frequency focused ultrasound to treat these conditions without any incisions.
• Slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease: We are the first health care system in Kentucky to offer lecanemab and a leader nationally in the application of this cutting-edge drug.
• Highest level of stroke care
  • Four Norton Healthcare adult-service hospitals are DNV-certified for stroke care, reflecting the highest standards in rapid treatment and outcomes.
  • Four adult-service hospitals have earned American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines awards for exceptional stroke care, including multiple Gold Plus and Honor Roll designations.
• More than 75 medical, surgical and research specialists collaborate to provide innovative treatment of brain, spine and nervous system conditions.
• Norton Neuroscience Institute’s multiple sclerosis (MS) program has met the high standards to achieve Center for Comprehensive MS Care designation by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
• The National Association of Epilepsy Centers has recognized Norton Neuroscience Institute Comprehensive Epilepsy Center as a Level 4 center, providing the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
• Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center navigators help educate patients and their families about new diagnoses, available treatments and ways to manage their disease.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance accepted; families with income equal to or less than 350% of the federal poverty level may be eligible for financial assistance.
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