Abstract

BackgroundWriter’s cramp (WC) is a task-specific focal dystonia which manifests itself as abnormal postures interfering with motor performance. As the spread of motor symptoms remains controversial and non-motor symptoms are widely discussed, in this exploratory study, we explore the pathophysiology of WC, focusing on task-specificity and the psychological profiles of WC patients.MethodsIn 14 right-handed WC patients and matched controls, we assessed motor control by applying motor performance tests (Vienna Test Series), as well as using writing analysis and grip-force measurements. Moreover, detailed psychological factors were assessed. Classification trees were used to distinguish patients from controls.ResultsThe total duration of writing and the vertical writing frequency of the pen are the most important variables to split the data set successfully into patients and controls. No other variables concerning motor performance tests, grip-force measurements or psychological factors correctly separated patients and controls.ConclusionsOnly variables from the writing tasks successfully separated patients and controls, indicating a strong task-specificity of WC in our patient group. Future research should be performed with larger samples of untreated WC patients in early stages of impairment, without any secondary motor disturbances, to verify our findings.

Highlights

  • Writer’s cramp (WC) is a task-specific focal dystonia which manifests itself as abnormal postures interfering with motor performance

  • Writer’s Cramp (WC) is a task-specific movement disorder that manifests itself as abnormal postures and unwanted muscle spasms that interfere with motor performance while writing [1]

  • The variable importance measure showed the total duration of writing and the vertical writing frequency of the pen to be the most important variables used to split the data set successfully into patients and controls

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Summary

Introduction

Writer’s cramp (WC) is a task-specific focal dystonia which manifests itself as abnormal postures interfering with motor performance. Writer’s Cramp (WC) is a task-specific movement disorder that manifests itself as abnormal postures and unwanted muscle spasms that interfere with motor performance while writing [1]. According to the new classification, WC is considered a sporadic focal dystonia (FD) with late adult onset between the ages of 30 and 50 years [2]. About half of the patients with simple cramps progress to having dystonia with other activities. Remissions are uncommon, Symptoms appear at a mean age of 38 years [3]. The prevalence rate of WC was reported to be 6.9 per 100,000 persons, whereas the incidence was 0.27 per 100,000 in one year [6]

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