A coordination disorder summarizes all the disorders that prevent a person from properly performing the movements of his or her body.
What are coordination disorders?
Basically, a person learns coordination during childhood. Examples of learned coordination would be learning how to walk or how to use your hands. Coordination literally means to regulate something. The body regulates its functions through coordination so that it can be used wisely depending on the situation. If physical coordination is disturbed, there are reasons for it, which can be treated and in some cases corrected. If there is such a disturbance of coordination, the result is a sequence of movements that is difficult to control and no longer orderly, which is usually an interaction of several incorrectly functioning muscle groups. This condition is called ataxia. The coordination of isolated muscle groups can also be disturbed. As a subset of ataxia, this condition is called asynergia. There are disorders of essential and nonessential coordination.
Causes
Basically, a person learns coordination in childhood. Examples of learned coordination would be learning to walk or to use the hands. Likewise, coordination is learned through training and habit. Both learning processes must take place in the same way in order not to block the execution of certain movements. A physical cause of a coordination disorder can be damage to the nervous system. In the cerebrum, the two sides of the body are controlled by the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Both halves of the brain are connected by nerve cords. Mostly both halves of the body are used at the same time. It is possible, for example, due to malnutrition, that one of the two hemispheres of the brain has remained underdeveloped in childhood. This has a corresponding effect on the coordination of the body. If there is damage to the cerebellum, automatic actions such as eating or keeping the body upright can no longer be performed. If the brain is injured in an accident, the brain’s commands to certain muscle groups may no longer arrive. Medications and drugs can damage nerve conduction by blocking the switching sites on neurotransmitters.
Diseases with this symptom
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE).
- Wernicke’s encephalopathy
- Zika virus infection
- Neuroborreliosis
- Restless legs syndrome (Restless legs).
- Lyme disease
Diagnosis and course
In medicine, the term dystonia is used to refer to coordination disorders. Focal dystonia refers to the disorder of single muscle groups, and general dystonia refers to the disorder of multiple muscle groups. Typical diagnoses of dystonia include eyelid spasm, spasmodic torticollis, dsytonic voice disorder, and writer’s cramp. Responsive dystonia in which there is a malposition of the legs at onset is also typical. Responsive dystonia is often misdiagnosed as an orthopedic disorder. Since a coordination disorder in many cases affects the whole body, it can manifest itself in many different ways and is often difficult to diagnose. In addition to problems with urination, muscle cramps, shortness of breath or chest pain, to name just a few symptoms, a sufferer often feels overstimulated, exhausted, suffers from headaches and dizziness. A clear diagnosis is usually only made in milder cases and for disorders that are temporary. Many medical professionals speak of an “embarrassment diagnosis”, due to the numerous different symptoms and the difficulty of describing them accurately. This diagnosis is difficult to prove.
Complications
Coordination disorders cause immense stress in everyday life. Movements cannot be made in the way they are thought and planned in the mind. Especially in the case of unconscious sequences, this leads to a strong emotional and mental burden for the affected person. Stress sets in, the nerves are strained and irritability is possible. The general well-being is significantly reduced. In some cases, occupational disability is imminent. The coordination disorders increase the risk of accidents. In some people, the stress leads to palpitations, increased blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.People with a coordination disorder are often seen as mentally disturbed, alcoholics or drug addicts. The feeling of isolation sets in and can trigger further mental disorders. Treatment of coordination disorders often involves the administration of medications. These have side effects, such as apathetic behavior, headaches, stomach aches or loss of appetite. Relaxation procedures are performed, which some people find unpleasant. If therapy is initiated against the patient’s will, the successes are very small or non-existent. The patient himself often does not see the connection between a psychological problem and physical complaints. In addition, the successes of many of those affected are slow to materialize. This leads to dissatisfaction.
When should one go to the doctor?
If the coordination disorders occur mainly after the consumption of alcohol or other drugs, a visit to the doctor is not necessary. As a rule, the coordination disorders then disappear by themselves when the body has broken down the drug in question. However, a doctor should be consulted if the drug use can no longer be stopped and it develops into an addiction. If the coordination problems occur only for a short time and disappear again on their own, a visit to the doctor is also not necessary. These can occur due to short-term symptoms or other influences and are usually harmless. Medical treatment is necessary if the concentration disorders are permanent and make the patient’s life difficult. In many cases, physically strenuous activities can no longer be performed. If such severe limitations occur, the coordination disorders must be treated by a physician. Treatment is also necessary if headaches or nausea occur in addition to the coordination disorders. As a rule, the family doctor is the first point of contact, who will identify the cause of the coordination disorders and then refer the affected person to a specialist.
Treatment and therapy
A coordination disorder that is based on a failure to learn certain movements is counteracted by physiotherapy. A change in diet may be helpful. If the disorder has drug-related causes, medications are discontinued or replaced. Care should be taken to protect those affected psychologically. When treating a coordination disorder, it is particularly important not to treat physical symptoms in isolation, but also the causes. For this reason, drug therapies are combined with physiotherapy and psychotherapy, as are relaxation methods. As a rule, the treatment begins with a relaxing physical therapy. If this does not help, the patient is usually referred to a psychotherapist. Care should be taken to tailor treatment to the individual patient.
Outlook and prognosis
If coordination disorders occur after the use of alcohol or other drugs, they are not a particular complication and disappear on their own once the drug has been completely broken down by the body. However, if the substances are taken over a long period of time, they can damage nerves, resulting in permanent coordination disorders. The coordination disorders usually cause severe stress in the daily life of the affected person. Thus, certain actions can no longer be carried out without further ado. This leads to stress and often also to psychological problems. The coordination disorders often make it impossible for the affected person to pursue work. The symptom is also often accompanied by a racing heart, which in the worst case can lead to a heart attack. In most cases, treatment is through the administration of medication. In many cases, the patient must be admitted to a clinic to treat the coordination problems. The further prospects with this symptom depend thereby strongly on the will of the patient to defeat the disease. Often, in addition to treatment with medication, physiotherapy is also used, which usually increases the chances of success.
Prevention
In the prevention of coordination disorders, the only effective means is physical training. There are specially designed exercise classes that promote coordination and train the brain.However, doctors agree that targeted prevention of coordination disorders is nearly impossible.
What you can do yourself
Coordination disorders can be cured only to a limited extent, both by the doctor and at home. As a rule, the further course of the disease depends very much on the cause of the coordination disorders. In most cases, coordination disorders can be combated by appropriate physiotherapy. Besides the physiotherapy itself, the patient can also perform certain sports exercises at home, training his extremities. This training has a positive effect on the coordination disorders and also prevents them. Especially in older age it is important to move a lot and to train all body regions regularly. For the healing of the coordination disorders, changing the diet to healthy and low-fat food usually has a positive effect. If the coordination disorders have arisen due to the abuse of alcohol and drugs, the respective addiction must be fought. This can be done privately, with the help of a self-help group or in a special clinic. As a rule, coordination disorders disappear again if the addiction has been defeated. Coordination disorders can be aggravated by psychological stress. Therefore, they should be avoided. These include, above all, bullying, exclusion and depression. In rare cases, coordination disorders are also inherited. Here, unfortunately, there is no possibility for treatment or self-help.
