Movement disorders are neurologic syndromes with either an excess of movement or involuntary moments or reduced movements.

These disorders require complex care from an experienced team of specialists. At University of Missouri Health Care, we offer a full range of treatments, surgery and support services to help manage conditions that affect the way your body moves.

Our movement disorder experts have the skills to treat all types of movement disorders including the most complex cases. Our neurologists, neurosurgeons and other experts work together to offer you personalized care.

Your care team also includes a nurse specialist who helps arrange treatment and gives you and your loved ones personal support. We help set up appointments, educate you about your health problem, and make sure you have all resources you need. If you need other health care experts, they also become part of your care team. That’s how we make sure we bring you comprehensive care. 

Comprehensive movement disorders program

Our neurosciences experts have special training to diagnose and treat all types of movement disorders including:

• Ataxia, tic disorders (including Tourette syndrome) and dystonia
• Cortical basal ganglionic degeneration
• Dyskinesias including chorea
• Essential tremor
• Huntington's disease
• Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) 
• Parkinson's disease
• Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
• Shy-Drager syndrome

We offer a wide range of treatments and services to help improve the quality of your life and ease symptoms including:

• Medicines to control your symptoms
• Rehabilitative evaluation and services to help you maintain function (physical, occupational and speech-language therapies)
• Cognitive exams and treatment to improve the way you process information
• Psychological (mental health) counseling to improve your emotional well-being
• Complete presurgical tests to decide if surgery is right for you
• Parkinson’s disease support groups to help you and your loved ones cope with your health problem

Parkinson's disease

Our team of health care professionals includes neurologists trained in movement disorders, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and neurosurgeons to help patients manage Parkinson’s disease.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, we work with patients and families to find the most suitable medicines to help improve day-to-day functioning and quality of life. If medication cannot adequately control the symptoms, we can offer surgical therapies such as deep brain stimulation (DBS).

We understand coping with this condition can be overwhelming for patients, their families and caregivers. That’s why we meet regularly with Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group to provide resources, lectures and up-to-date information about the disease and its treatments.

Advanced movement disorder treatments

Our movement disorders experts have advanced skills in some of the latest treatments, including:

• Botox^® injections. This neurotoxin is used to relax muscles that are having spasms. It’s also used to treat dystonia (muscle contraction) and dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements).
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS). This procedure is used to treat Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia and tic syndromes.
• DUOPA infusion. This medicine, which is given through a feeding tube, can improve movement and function in people who have Parkinson's disease.

When you choose MU Health Care, you benefit from all the medical experience and resources that can only be found at an academic health system. And, because our doctors take part in research, you can feel confident that you’ll get the most advanced care.