A Steadying Force Focused on You
A movement disorder might be holding you back from living life on your own terms. But not anymore. Our experienced and compassionate team is here to help you manage your condition and regain control.
Our Expert Team
Understanding Your Condition
Movement disorders are conditions characterized by impaired muscle coordination, slow reaction times and uncontrolled movements, such as tremors.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progresses slowly over time and affects each individual differently. People with PD may experience:
- Bradykinesia (slow movement)
- Gait and balance problems
- Limb rigidity
- Tremor
There’s no single Parkinson’s diagnosis test, but our skilled neurology teams can rule out other causes of tremors and create a personalized treatment plan for you.
A tremor is an involuntary shaking movement caused by muscle contractions. It can occur in a number of body parts, be consistent or sporadic, and can happen on its own or be caused by another condition. Often, tremors are caused by a neurologic disorder in the brain, but they can also be caused by things like medications, hyperthyroidism, anxiety, and substance withdrawal.
Essential tremor is the most common type of tremor, it usually affects the hands, but it can also affect the head, voice, tongue, legs and trunk. These tremors tend to be worse during movement than when at rest. Their cause is unknown, but there is a strong genetic component.
Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes excessive, involuntary muscle contractions (which may resemble tremors). These contractions create abnormal muscle movements and body postures that may or may not be painful. Dystonic symptoms sometimes worsen or occur only with specific tasks.
These types of facial dystonias usually start with an increase in blinking or eyelid twitching; they are often associated with dry eye syndrome. These conditions can range in severity, from bothersome to debilitating when trying to complete daily activities.
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited disorder that causes nerve cells in parts of the brain to gradually break down and die. The disease, which gets worse over time, attacks regions of the brain associated with movement, as well as other areas. People with HD develop problems with behavior, emotion, thinking and personality, along with uncontrollable dance-like movements (called chorea) and abnormal body postures.
Learn more about our Huntington's Disease Multidisciplinary Clinic.
Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare disorder that affects the nervous system. Symptoms include rapid, multi-directional eye movements (opsoclonus), quick, involuntary muscle jerks (myoclonus), uncoordinated movement (ataxia), irritability and sleep disturbance. OMS typically occurs in association with tumors (neuroblastomas), or following a viral or bacterial infection.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms commonly occur most when a person is resting or sitting for extended periods.
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is associated with taking certain kinds of mental health medicine (like antipsychotics) that help control dopamine, a chemical in the brain. TD is thought to be caused by too much dopamine signaling in the brain. Movements can occur in one or more spots of the body and can be rapid or slow.
An abnormal walking pattern (gait) can be caused by factors as serious as stroke or as simple as ill-fitting footwear. The chance of a gait disorder increases with age, as older people tend to experience more conditions that cause an abnormal gait and typically have weaker muscles, delayed reaction and less muscle coordination than younger people.
Tics are sudden, involuntary twitches, movements or sounds that a person does repeatedly. Tics can be motor or vocal, and may be chronic or temporary. Motor tics are involuntary movements caused by spasm-like contractions of muscles, most commonly involving the face, mouth, eyes, head, neck or shoulders. Vocal tics are sounds uttered unintentionally. Some combinations of motor and vocal tics are diagnosed as Tourette's syndrome.
- Parkinson's Disease
- Essential Tremor
- Multiple Sclerosis - Advanced/Progressive
- Multiple Sclerosis - Newly Diagnosed
- Huntington's Disease
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Myasthenia Gravis and Muscular Dystrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (rehab lead)
Find Care Near You
AdventHealth Medical Group Neurology at Innovation Tower
265 East Rollins Street, 6th Floor
Orlando, FL 32804
407-303-6729
Personalized Treatment Options
Depending on your unique symptoms, needs and health history, our multidisciplinary team will design a course of treatment personalized to you. It may include one or a combination of options.
- Therapy and Rehabilitation: Occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy (ST) and rehabilitation programs work together to help you regain function and control of your movement disorder.
- Botox Injections: Botulinum neurotoxin (BNT) injections are commonly used to treat dystonia symptoms in a specific group of muscles.
- Deep Brain Stimulation: By implanting electrodes, your doctors can stimulate the specific areas of your brain associated with your unique condition through electrical impulses that regulate signals, cells and chemicals within your brain.
- MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound: If medication hasn’t eased your tremors, it may be time to consider a procedure. We’re one of few centers in the nation offering MR-guided focused ultrasound: an effective, non-invasive option for the treatment of tremors.
A Patient Success Story
Mark Wade is a well-known ventriloquist who went under Deep Brain Stimulation surgery at AdventHealth Celebration to treat an essential tremor. Learn more about his story by watching the video.
A Community of Support: The Parkinson Outreach Center
The Parkinson Outreach Center, founded in 2004, has been offering support, education and wellness programs to the Central Florida community — free of charge. Staffed by social workers, the Parkinson Outreach Center is devoted to helping people live an empowered life with Parkinson's disease.
For more information, call 407-303-5295.