dystonia

American  

[dis-toh-nee-uh] / dɪsˈtoʊ ni ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. abnormal tone of any tissue.

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dystonia British  

/ dɪsˈtəʊnɪə /

noun

1. a neurological disorder, caused by disease of the basal ganglia, in which the muscles of the trunk, shoulders, and neck go into spasm, so that the head and limbs are held in unnatural positions

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Other Word Forms

• dystonic adjective

Etymology

Origin of dystonia

dys- + -tonia

Example Sentences

It’s happened often enough that scientists at the Mayo Clinic have a more formal definition for it—involuntary wrist spasms that can stem from a neurological condition called focal dystonia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

Participants traveled from across the U.S., the U.K. and Canada to participate in the trial -- testimony to the excitement that this drug offers to the dystonia community.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024

Aged 19, she was diagnosed with the neurological condition dystonia which leads to joint and muscle contractions and spasms and became a full-time wheelchair user.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024

The Mayo Clinic describes it as “a type of focal dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions during a specific task.”

From Salon • Aug. 1, 2024

The disorder, also known as laryngeal dystonia, hits women more often than men.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024