Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation treats movement disorders, including dystonia (muscle contractions and abnormal postures), essential tremors, and Parkinson’s disease. DBS is a surgery used when a patient’s medication regimen and various rehabilitation strategies has become less effective in managing symptoms.
Deep brain stimulation administers a well-controlled electrical current into targeted areas of the brain. The current functions as an “off switch” by disrupting damaged brain signals responsible for the abnormal physical movement. This disruption helps restore normal activity in the brain, enabling more controlled movement. DBS does not involve destruction of brain tissue, and its effects are reversible and adjustable.
Diseases and conditions treated
- Dystonia (muscle spasms, twisting, abnormal posture)
- Epilepsy (recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain)
- Essential tremors (involuntary shaking)
- Parkinson’s disease (progressive nerve disorder causing shaking, loss of movement and speech, and more)
- Seizures (involuntary shaking or behavior due to stress or psychological issues)
- Spasticity (constant muscle contraction caused by brain or spinal cord damage)
- Torticollis (involuntary neck spasms or twisting)