title: Writer's cramp.
abstract: Writer's cramp is the most common form of focal, task-specific dystonia. Symptoms frequently evolve in the setting of repetitive hand movements and increased writing demands, and clinical presentations demonstrate a variety of different dystonic patterns of the upper extremity such as while writing or holding a writing utensil. However, why writer's cramp develops still remains much of a mystery. Clinical evaluation of patients with writer's cramp and various theories regarding its pathophysiology are reviewed. Treatment can be challenging and often involves a combination of pharmacologic (e.g., oral medications, botulinum toxin injections) and non-pharmacologic approaches (e.g., neurosurgical or neurostimulatory interventions, rehabilitation therapies, adaptive devices). Management strategies for writer's cramp using both of these approaches will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Section of Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer_G_Goldman@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins
keywords: Botulinum toxin; Focal hand dystonia; Mirror dystonia; Occupational cramp; Sensory trick; Task-specific