Anatomical Distribution
Dystonia usually begins in a single body part. It may either remain restricted to that area or spread to involve another region or regions. Therefore, it is helpful to classify dystonia based upon anatomical distribution as follows:
- Focal—limited to one area of the body
- Segmental—affecting 2 or more nearby or contiguous areas of the body
- Multifocal—involving 2 or more distant regions of the body
- Hemidystonia—affecting one half of the body
- Generalized—leg involvement plus eventual involvement of another region or regions of the body
