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Dystonia is a condition characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that can cause repetitive movements in affected areas of the body. For musicians and athletes, it could impact performance and impact their financial wellbeing.
Steven J. Frucht, MD, professor in the and director of the , has been treating people for dystonia, as well as Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, for decades. He recently spoke on the Sports Illustrated podcast Losing Control about the condition and what golfers and baseball players refer to as “the yips.”
“For a large part of the 20th century, many individuals, many physicians, thought that dystonia was a psychological disorder. It turns out that’s complete nonsense,” Dr. Frucht tells Losing Control. “It has nothing to do with neuroses. It has nothing to do with a psychological problem. It is a problem within the brain.”
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