Movement disorders and movement disorders

Dyskinesia, or dyskinesia, is a condition in which the muscles and nerves of the digestive system do not function properly. This dysfunction can change the speed, strength, and coordination of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

When muscles do not function properly, it is known as myopathy. If nerves that affect the gastrointestinal tract are involved, the condition is associated with neuropathy.

This article describes several types of movement disorders and their symptoms. We will also explain the causes and treatments.

Types of movement disorders

Movement disorders vary depending on their severity and the area of ​​the gastrointestinal tract affected. Some diseases tend to affect certain areas of the digestive system.

Esophageal dysmotility

The esophagus is commonly affected by movement disorders. The most common is achalasia, which is caused by nerve cells losing control of muscle function and degenerating. This prevents the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) from closing properly.

Other types of esophageal motility disorders include esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction and major and minor peristalsis disorders. These main obstacles include:

• Distal (diffuse) esophageal spasm
• hypercontractile esophagus
• lack of contractility

Mild disorders of esophageal peristalsis include:

• inefficient esophageal motility
• Fragmented peristalsis

gastric motility disorder

Many movement disorders affect the stomach. These include cyclic vomiting syndrome, which usually affects children. This is thought to be related to the way neurons in the brain send messages to the gastrointestinal tract.

Other movement disorders that affect the stomach include:

intestinal motility disorder

These conditions affect either the small intestine or the large intestine. Small intestinal motility disorders include:

Health conditions that can cause impaired colon motility include:

Symptoms of movement disorders

Symptoms of movement dysfunction vary depending on which area of ​​the digestive system is affected and what type of movement problem is occurring.

For example, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is a major symptom of upper gastrointestinal motility disorders.

Other symptoms of dysmotility in this part of the gastrointestinal tract include:

• abdominal pain
• burning or discomfort
• vomiting

If the lower gastrointestinal tract is involved, symptoms are more likely to cause lower abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea or constipation.

The speed of gastrointestinal function is a factor in dysmotility. Rapid dysfunction usually causes diarrhea as the contents of the digestive system are rapidly pushed through, producing soft, watery stools.

Constipation occurs due to movement disorders that slow transit times and fluid movement, resulting in hard stools that are difficult to defecate.

What causes movement disorders?

Normally, the muscle contractions of the digestive system work in a coordinated and orderly manner to facilitate the digestion of ingested food. Dysmotility may cause food, chyme, partially digested food, and stomach acid to move slowly or quickly through the gastrointestinal tract.

Changes from normal motility can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Movement disorders can occur as a result of nerve and muscle dysfunction in any area of ​​the digestive system. Although the cause is often unknown, many underlying conditions can cause movement disorders.

For example, about 9% of people treated for symptoms of dysphagia, chest pain, or reflux disease have a rheumatic disease such as lupus.

Many drugs can affect the function of nerves and muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. These drugs are used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol levels, and depression.

Treatment of movement disorders

Treatment for movement disorders depends on several factors, including the type of movement disorder, the person’s overall health, and any other underlying or associated medical conditions.

A gastroenterologist or movement disorder specialist will first diagnose the disorder. In addition to a physical exam, tests used to diagnose movement disorder conditions include:

In most cases, treatment includes dietary and lifestyle changes, medications, surgery, or a combination of these treatments.

For example, achalasia can be treated with calcium channel blockers, which restrict blood flow to the esophageal sphincter, while Botox injections can help relax the esophagus and alleviate swallowing problems. It can also be treated with a minimally invasive surgery called transoral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

A dyskinesia diet with added soluble fiber can help improve conditions such as IBS, which can be accompanied by impaired bowel movement or constipation. Your health care provider will create a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms.