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Why choose Geisinger for movement disorder treatment?

Movement disorders can affect how you move and carry out daily activities. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step toward managing symptoms and maintaining independence.

A team of specialists — including movement disorder neurologists, neuropsychologists and neurophysiologists — works together to understand your symptoms and build a plan around your goals. This multidisciplinary approach means neurology and neurosurgery specialists collaborate on your care from the start.

Treatment options include medication, therapy and surgical approaches, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). Your care team will help you determine what fits your condition and your life.

Conditions we treat

Related specialties

Understanding deep brain stimulation (DBS)

Learn how DBS works and when it may be considered as part of treatment for movement disorders.

FAQs

What are movement disorders?

Movement disorders are neurological conditions that affect how your body moves. They can cause involuntary movements, tremors and difficulty with coordination and balance.

What are common symptoms of movement disorders?

Symptoms of movement disorders include:

  • Tremors or shaking
  • Stiffness or slowed movement
  • Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
  • Jerky or repetitive movements
  • Muscle spasms or abnormal postures

How are movement disorders treated?

Treatment depends on the condition and symptoms. Options may include medication, therapy and procedures, such as DBS.

What’s deep brain stimulation (DBS)?

DBS is a surgical treatment for movement disorders. It uses a small implanted device, similar to a pacemaker, that delivers electrical stimulation to targeted areas of the brain that control movement. This can help reduce tremors and other movement disorder symptoms.

Doctors consider DBS when medications and therapy haven't fully managed symptoms. DBS can treat a number of conditions, including:

  • Dystonia
  • Epilepsy
  • Essential tremor
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Parkinson's disease

What’s Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition that affects the part of the brain controlling movement. It causes shaking, stiffness and balance problems that come on gradually and worsen over time. While there's no cure, treatment options — including medication, therapy and DBS — can help manage symptoms and support daily function.

What is essential tremor?

Essential tremor causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking that most often affects the hands but can also involve the head, voice, legs and trunk. It's one of the most common movement disorders and is sometimes confused with Parkinson's disease.

When should I see a specialist?

If you notice ongoing changes in movement, balance, coordination or speech, a specialist can evaluate your symptoms and help determine next steps.

Movement disorder care at Geisinger 

Managing symptoms and supporting your day-to-day function are at the center of movement disorder care. We offer: 

  • Accurate diagnosis: Specialists evaluate symptoms, such as tremor, stiffness, balance changes and movement difficulties, to guide care and tailor your medication plan.
  • Therapy and rehabilitation: Programs, such as LSVT BIG®and LSVT LOUD®, help improve movement, speech and function.
  • Advanced treatment options: For some conditions, deep brain stimulation is an option when medication alone doesn’t control symptoms.
  • Convenient locations: Movement disorder care is available in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.