Part 1: Poverty and slowness of voluntary movement: Bradykinesia, hypokinesia and akinesia -- Weakness -- Apathy, catatonia and mutism -- Obsessional slowness -- Part 2: Abnormalities of muscle tone: Spasticity -- Rigidity -- Paratonia -- Stiffness -- Atonia, hypotonia and negative myoclonus -- Part 3: {u2018}Unvoluntary' muscle activity: Tics -- Stereotypies and mannerisms -- Akathisia/restlessness -- Part 4: Lack of organization or coordination of voluntary muscle activity -- Apraxia -- Limb ataxia -- Part 5: Rhythmical involuntary movements: Tremor -- Tremor-like conditions: rhythmic myoclonus, myorhythmia, epileptic syndromes and clonus -- Part 6: Slow involuntary movements and abnormal posturing: Dystonia -- Spasms and cramps -- Myotonia and neuromyotonia -- Part 7: Rapid involuntary movements: Chorea/ballism -- Myoclonus and excessive startle -- Myokymia -- Part 8: Axial disorders of movement: Disorders of speech -- Disorders of stance -- Disorders of gait.

The prevalence of all movement disorders among the general population has been estimated to be about 25%; they are thus among the most common neurological conditions. Although the past 25 years have witnessed outstanding growth in knowledge on the phenomenology and basic mechanisms of movement disorders, they are often still perceived as highly challenging by neurologists, physicians, and medical students. This concise but comprehensive book will help interested readers in the health care professions to navigate their way through the jungle of movement disorders, including the potentially complex differential diagnosis and management. The different disorders are discussed in individual sections that explain how to examine the patient and recognize the disorder from its basic phenomenology, how to confirm a diagnosis, how to distinguish a particular disorder from related conditions, and how to treat each disorder effectively. The book makes liberal use of diagrams, algorithms, tables, summary boxes, and illustrations to facilitate solution of clinical problems at the bedside and to solidify previously learned clinical and therapeutic concepts. It will be of interest to a broad audience of health professionals, scientists, and medical students.