Dyskinesia is a condition that causes uncontrollable, abnormal, and involuntary bodily movements. This health condition is often caused by long term use of Levodopa (a medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease), and has various types. Explained below are the different forms of dyskinesia as well as some lifestyle tips for dyskinesia to help manage the condition:

1. Parkinson’s/Levodopa-induced dyskinesia

Approximately 50 percent of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease suffer from Levodopa-caused dyskinesia. The common symptoms related to this type include swaying, rocking, fidgeting, head bobbing, and wriggling. Around 50 percent of patients who are affected by Levodopa-caused dyskinesia do not have trouble treating the symptoms.

2. Tremors

Common forms of tremor include resting or static, action and intention or kinetic, and postural. In case of a resting or static tremor, the tremors develop in a resting, relaxed, and completely supported limb. Usually, this type of tremor is connected to multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. In the case of action and intention or kinetic tremor, the tremors develop when there is a movement of an upper part of the body such as the hand or arm. Generally, this kind of tremor is connected to cerebellar degeneration conditions, tumors, vascular disease, and multiple sclerosis. In postural tremor, the tremor develops at a time when the limb is not being moved and it continues once the limb starts moving. Such a kind of tremor occurs due to physiological factors such as heavy metal poisoning, antidepressants, and alcohol abuse. This tremor can also occur due to neurological conditions such as Wilson’s disease.

3. Other types of dyskinesia

Other types include dystonia, chorea, delayed or tardive dyskinesia, ballism, spasmodic torticollis, and athetosis, among others.

4. Lifestyle tips to manage dyskinesia

Explained below are a few key lifestyle tips for dyskinesia to help you treat the condition:

• Consider deep brain stimulation: The doctor may suggest a surgical treatment such as deep brain stimulation in case of extreme symptoms that do not show any improvement. This kind of process includes the attachment of thin wires to particular sections of the brain that manage movement. According to a review in 2016, delivering electronic pulses through these thin wires has resulted in the reduction of dyskinesia by over 80 percent. Patients can reduce their requirements for medications post-surgery, and this change may be due to the improvement in the health condition. Stimulation might solely help to counteract dyskinesia.
• Changes in diet: There is no particular diet plan to treat dyskinesia. However, certain dietary changes can help impact how the body absorbs and makes use of Levodopa. As per the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Levodopa is a developing block of protein, and the body absorbs it with dietary protein, and hence, the body is unable to completely absorb the medication. This results in a higher dose to get the same effect and a higher dose increases the risk of dyskinesia. Therefore, the Michael J. Fox Foundation recommends that patients should tweak their diet by excluding significant sources of protein while taking the medication. The patient may replace protein-rich meals with carbohydrate-based snacks.

Apart from the aforementioned ideas, other important lifestyle tips for dyskinesia include doing aerobic exercises, reducing stress, and changing medication dosage and timing after checking with your doctor.