Sensory trick phenomenon improves motor control in pianists with dystonia: prognostic value of glove-effect

• Main Authors: Jakobine ePaulig, Hans-Christian eJabusch, Michael eGrossbach, Laurent eBoullet, Eckart eAltenmüller
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-09-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychology
• Subjects: Botulinum Toxin; focal dystonia; sensory trick; glove-effect; retraining
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01012/full

Musician’s dystonia (MD) is a task-specific movement disorder that causes loss of voluntary motor control while playing the instrument. A subgroup of patients displays the so-called sensory trick: alteration of somatosensory input, e.g. by wearing a latex glove, may result in short-term improvement of motor control. In this study, the glove-effect in pianists with MD was quantified and its potential association with MD-severity and outcome after treatment was investigated.Thirty affected pianists were included in the study. MIDI-based scale analysis was used for assessment of fine motor control. Therapeutic options included botulinum toxin (BTX), pedagogical retraining (PR) and anticholinergic medication (Trihexyphenidyl-TRHX).19% of patients showed significant improvement of fine motor control through wearing a glove. After treatment, outcome was significantly better in patients with a significant pre-treatment sensory trick. We conclude that the sensory trick may have a prognostic value for the outcome after treatment in pianists with MD.