Movement disorders are characterized by difficulty controlling body movement. Muscles can involuntarily contract — causing increased movement like shaking, twisting or jerking — or they can slow down, causing stiffness, imbalance and a decline in cognition (the ability to learn and retain information).

We're proud to be able to offer the Central Valley expert functional neurosurgery services to treat movement disorders, including:

• Deep brain stimulation (DBS)

• Laser surgery

• Frameless and frame-based stereotactic surgery

• Psychosurgery

Conditions we treat 

Dystonia 
Dystonia causes a loss of voluntary muscle control and it can affect specific parts of the body, or the body as a whole. Those with the condition may experience difficulty with movement, trouble swallowing and speaking, or vision problems.   

Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. Signs and symptoms of the disease can be different for everyone but may include:

• Tremor

• Difficult or slow movement

• Problems with posture or balance

• Changes in speech or writing

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
RLS is characterized by an unpleasant feeling in, and an uncontrollable urge to move, your legs or feet — usually at night when you're lying down or sitting. Often, the sensation is relieved temporarily by moving the leg or foot.

Tremor
Tremor, the most common movement disorder, is an involuntary movement of a body part or parts. There are different kinds of tremors with different underlying causes, from diseases like diabetes or Parkinson's, to exposure to toxins, alcohol withdrawal or drug use.