[A case of a middle-age man with equinovarus movement at the end of the swing phase of walking].
We present a case with walking-induced equinovarus caused by dystonic contraction of the left ankle. This abnormal motor behavior occurred only when the patient walked, more specifically when the left leg was at the end of the swing phase. Surface electromyography confirmed continuous abnormal discharges in the left gastrocnemius muscles during the swing phase of walking. Brain and spinal magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) were normal. The patient was unresponsive to drug therapy. However, the symptom reduced by the attachment of the short leg brace. From the effectiveness of the brace in normalizing, the patient was diagnosed with task-specific focal dystonia of the left leg.
Shimizu
Takahiro
T
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine.
Shiraishi
Makoto
M
Hirayama
Toshikazu
T
Sugihara
Hiroshi
H
Takahashi
Yoichi
Y
D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology; D001915:Braces; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004421:Dystonia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*