Movement - uncoordinated

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Muscular atrophy

Uncoordinated movement is a muscle control problem or an inability to finely coordinate movements. This condition is called ataxia.

It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fro motion of the middle of the body (trunk) and an unsteady gait (walking style).

Lack of coordination; Loss of coordination; Coordination impairment; Ataxia; Clumsiness; Uncoordinated movement

Smooth graceful movement requires a fine balance between different muscle groups. A part of the brain called the cerebellum manages this balance.

Diseases that damage the cerebellum, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves can interfere with normal muscle movement and result in coarse, jerky, uncoordinated movements.

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Brain injuries or diseases that can cause uncoordinated movements include:

• Brain injury or head trauma
• Chickenpox or certain other brain infections
• Conditions that are passed through families (such as congenital cerebellar ataxia, Friedreich's ataxia, ataxia - telangiectasia, or Wilson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke ortransient ischemic attack (TIA)

Poisoning or toxic effects caused by:

• Alcohol
• Drugs including aminoglutethimide, anticholinergics, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, tricyclic antidepressants, and any sedative
• Heavy metals such as mercury, thallium, and lead
• Solvents such as toluene or carbon tetrachloride

Other causes include:

• Certain cancers, in which symptoms may appear months or years before the cancer is diagnosed (called paraneoplastic syndrome)
• Problems with the nerves in the legs (neuropathy)
• Spine injury or damage (such as compression fractures of the spine)

Review Date: 02/05/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).