What is dystonia primarily characterized by?

Dystonia is primarily characterized by involuntary muscle spasms, which can lead to sustained muscle contractions and abnormal postures. These involuntary movements can affect various parts of the body and can be quite distressing, as they are not controlled by the individual. Dystonia occurs due to neurological dysfunction, where there is an imbalance in the signals that the brain sends to the muscles, resulting in these abnormal movements.

While excessive voluntary muscle movements may occur in other conditions like chorea or tremors, they do not define dystonia. Recurring muscle weakness is more commonly associated with conditions like myasthenia gravis or muscle disorders, which is not characteristic of dystonia. Persistent muscle atrophy typically refers to the wasting away of muscle tissue over time, often due to disuse or neurological disease, rather than the pathological muscle contractions seen in dystonia. Thus, involuntary muscle spasms capture the essence of dystonia and explain its key features.