Focal dystonia

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Focal dystonia is a neurological condition affecting a muscle or muscles in a part of the body causing an undesirable muscular contraction or twisting. For example, in focal hand dystonia, the fingers either curl into the palm or extend outward without control. This is caused by misfiring of neurons, causing the contractions. Though the condition expresses itself in a body part, it is thought that it actually originates in the motor cortex, a portion of the brain. While usually painless, there are many instances when the condition does indeed cause pain for the patient. It is worth noting that focal dystonia often affects those who rely on fine motor skills - musicians, writers, surgeons, etc.

Musicians affected by focal dystonia include Leon Fleisher, of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, who suffered from this affliction in his right hand, as did Alex Klein, formerly the first oboist of the Chicago Symphony, and Ernestine Whitman, former member of the Atlanta Symphony and currently a professor of flute at Lawrence University. Classical guitarist David Leisner is one of the few musicians who has fully recovered from this condition and who has returned successfully to the concert stage and recording studio after a decade of disability. Also, Leon Fleisher, after having received botox injections has recently regained the use of his right hand.

Scott Adams, the writer of the popular Dilbert comics, is also afflicted with focal dystonia of the hand, which impedes his artwork^[1].

This condition can sometimes be treated by giving periodic botox injections, which weakens the contracted muscles for a period of time allowing the opposing muscles to move more normally, but this has had only limited success.