Causes and Treatment of Involuntary Movements in Children?

Unbalanced and uncontrolled movements that develop during childhood, especially in the arms and legs, both lower and upper body extremities, are called involuntary movements in children. This movement and control disorder can occur on one side of the body or on both sides. Apart from the body extremities, involuntary movements may also occur in the face and in the neck while maintaining balance.

What Are Involuntary Movements?

Movements that are not performed consciously and deliberately for a purpose can be defined as involuntary movements. Involuntary movements generally occur due to some disorder or abnormality in the body. Besides the uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs, involuntary chewing, laughing, eye blinking or grimacing movements also fall within these movement disorders. Being unable to maintain body balance is also among movement disorders. Staggering while walking or standing can also be defined among these movement problems. Trauma and stress, and neurological problems in particular, are among the most commonly observed causes of these movement disorders. Recovery can occur with the right approach and treatments. Some specifically defined involuntary movements can be described as follows:

Head bobbing: It can be observed as forward and backward or side to side.

Sleep myoclonus: It can be defined as sudden movements such as jerking or startling, especially within the first hours after falling asleep.

Jitteriness: Tremors seen in infancy that may occur in the hands, legs, chin and fingers. It is expected to stop when the baby is held.

Childhood Masturbation: It may appear as slight flushing, sweating, becoming quiet, or rubbing movements.

Paroxysmal Tonic Upward Gaze: It is a condition in infancy in which the eyeballs and gaze become fixed on a point below for a short time.

Sandifer Syndrome: It is a head-turning movement with the neck retracted, which may be observed in infants and children with reflux.

Benign Paroxysmal Torticollis: It is a condition in which the neck becomes fixed to one side or moves focused toward that side; it occurs from time to time.

Persistent (Non-Transient) Movement Disorders: These are movement disorders that are performed continuously and repeatedly. They can be defined as tic disorder, Tourette syndrome, hyperkinetic (excessive) or hypokinetic (slow) movement disorders.

What Causes Involuntary Movements in Children?

These involuntary movements in children can have many different causes. These causes, which may develop due to intrinsic or environmental sources, are listed below:

Certain medications: Especially medications that affect the nervous system and stimulate the neuromuscular connection can cause involuntary movements. In this periodically observed situation, a physician should be consulted and the dose and timing of the medication should be adjusted.

Infections: Infections that occur during any illness or that are purely bacterial can also cause involuntary movements due to symptoms such as high fever.

Certain diseases: Involuntary movements can develop due to congenital, genetic or acquired diseases. Disorders affecting the nervous system such as cerebral palsy and autism can make muscle-nerve control difficult. Depending on the affected area of the brain, these diseases and movement disorders may present with different types and severities.

Stress: Some involuntary movements that develop from time to time in children can arise due to stress. In particular, movement changes that develop suddenly and are noticeable from the outside in intensity usually arise due to stress. If the child is of school age, information should be obtained from the teacher and school psychological counselor at this point, and the option of seeking psychological support should not be overlooked if the child is approaching adolescence.

What Triggers Involuntary Movements?

Involuntary movements can have various triggering causes. An approach and treatment aimed at the cause provides lasting well-being. Short-term and non-recurring movement differences do not cause major problems, but long-term loss of movement control may have negative consequences. For example, in jerking and startling movements during sleep caused by a fever from an infection, these movements subside as the infection heals. However, in the case of a disorder affecting the muscles and nervous system such as cerebral palsy, control and coordination of movements can be achieved over time with an exercise program suited to the child's level. In this way, the weakening of the neuromuscular system and the increase in involuntary movements can be prevented. Apart from this, many factors such as hormonal disorders, unhealthy nutrition, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be triggering causes. Working with a team of experts in the field is also very important for involuntary movements that develop due to stress and trauma. Specialists in the field, such as child psychologists and pedagogues, can support overcoming movement disorders with the right approach.

How Are Involuntary Movements Treated?

First and foremost, the diagnosis by the doctor and health team following the child is important. The cause of the involuntary movements should be determined, and a roadmap for treatment should be drawn up depending on the factors. The treatment techniques according to the cause of the movement disorders can be listed as follows:

Infection-Related Movement Disorder: First, a treatment aimed at correcting the bacteria and microorganism flora that is the source of the infection is planned by the pediatrician. In this way, the child's movement difference is also observed by the specialist physician. At this point, it is necessary not to give random antibiotic treatment and to observe correctly which movement has differences, irregularities or exaggerations. If these movement disorders that appear during the illness and should be short-lived do not improve, they must be reported to the physician.

Stress-Related Involuntary Movements: Sometimes intense stress can develop in children due to problems within the family, or sometimes due to difficulty managing school-age stress. Tics, sleep talking or different movements that appear during this period should be supported by a pediatrician as soon as they are noticed. The child must definitely be examined and all movements and any history of other diseases must be conveyed to the relevant pediatrician. Then, psychological support should be sought when necessary. If the pediatrician deems it necessary, psychiatric support should not be neglected. During this process, proper follow-up, observation and check-ups should be continued.

Involuntary Movements Due to Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is a disease that can develop before, during or after birth and can affect many parts of the brain. Especially when the motor control area is affected, individuals may need rehabilitation in many areas such as speech, upper and lower extremity control, and incoordination of movements. As with any treatment, early diagnosis is important in movement disorders that develop due to cerebral palsy. Especially in infancy, the developmental stages of the baby should be monitored, and movements that the baby has difficulty performing or performs very late should be reported to the pediatrician at routine check-ups. After diagnosis, movement and developmental disorders should be minimized through an intensive and regular physiotherapy and rehabilitation process.

Drug Treatment: In involuntary movement problems that are of psychological origin or develop due to a disease, medication may be used under physician supervision and control. One should not go beyond the doctor's recommendations regarding drug treatment.

Involuntary Movements in Children and Frequently Asked Questions

The first of the questions that come to mind in both the family and the environment of individuals who make involuntary and different movements in childhood is brain disease. Since the brain controls all muscles and systems in the human body, it is of course normal for the possibility of an anomaly to be the first thing that comes to mind. Many involuntary movements can also occur due to nervous system-related disorders such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism. However, not every movement disorder is a sign of brain disease; they can arise due to different triggers. There is no specific age limit or starting point for involuntary movements occurring in children. Involuntary movements and movement disorders can be seen at every age, from infancy onward. At this point, what matters is the frequency and continuity of the movements and their effect on the child's health and quality of life. With the right approach, especially involuntary movements that are temporary can be permanently improved. In this way, the quality of life of both the child and the parents or caregiver can increase. For the healthiest course of health and for daily life to proceed without interruption, control of bodily movement is essential. To live as an independent individual and to express oneself clearly, we must be physically strong and healthy for many important developmental processes. Involuntary movements, on the other hand, can have negative consequences because they change the daily flow of life. For example, a child whose sleep is interrupted every day by jerking and startling movements during sleep may experience developmental delay compared to peers. Or a child with cerebral palsy who cannot move an arm properly cannot eat alone and needs someone else's care. To eliminate such problems, early diagnosis and treatment must be sought. In this way, disruption to vital activities can be minimized. When involuntary movement is observed in children, the monitoring of the family and the pediatrician is very important. Especially with the guidance and treatment of a doctor who is an expert in the field and follows the child's development, the process proceeds in the healthiest way. In this way, while the child's movements improve, the family's comfort of life increases and the child's psychological burden decreases. If you want information about involuntary movements and other disorders occurring in your child and to make an appointment, do not delay consulting a doctor and taking the step toward healthy days.