Cooling improves the writing performance of patients with writer's cramp.
Cooling of hand and forearm muscles by immersion in 15 degrees C cold water for 5 minutes improved the writing performance of patients with writer's cramp. Since abnormal processing of muscle spindle afferent discharges contributes to the pathology of writer's cramp, this effect might result from a reduction in muscle spindle activity by lowering muscle temperature. Cooling is a simple, cheap, and safe procedure, providing temporary relief for patients with writer's cramp.
Pohl
Christoph
C
Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. c.pohl@uni-bonn.de
Happe
Jörg
J
Klockgether
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017679:Cryotherapy; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome