RT Book, Section
A1 González-Redondo, Rafael
A1 Gómez, Asier
A1 Obeso, José A.
A2 Watts, Ray L.
A2 Standaert, David G.
A2 Obeso, Jose A.
SR Print(0)
ID 55802025
T1 Chapter 37. Classification, Clinical Features, and Treatment of Myoclonus
T2 Movement Disorders, 3e
YR 2012
FD 2012
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-161312-5
LK accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=55802025
RD 2024/04/19
AB Myoclonus  is  a  brief  muscle  jerk  caused  by  neuronal  discharges.  A  sudden  and  short-lasting  interruption  of  ongoing  voluntary  muscle  contraction  may  produce  a  postural  pause  clinically  very  similar  to  myoclonus,  hence  the  term  “negative  myoclonus.”  Both  forms  often  share  the  same  etiology,  coincide  in  the  same  patients,  and  can  even  affect  the  same  muscle  group.1  A  myoclonic  jerk  consists  of  a  single  muscle  discharge  but  can  be  repetitive,  giving  rise  to  a  salvo  of  muscle  activity  (Fig.  37–1).  The  latter  is  particularly  frequent  in  action  myoclonus  and  interferes  severely  with  the  execution  of  even  the  most  simple  motor  tasks.  For  this  reason,  action  myoclonus  (both  positive  and  negative  types)  may  be  considered  among  the  movement  disorder  that  produces  the  greatest  interference  with  voluntary  movements.