Dystonia and cerebral palsy are both movement disorders in which your muscles are stiff. However, cerebral palsy can also affect your hearing, vision, thinking and learning, says MedlinePlus.
Symptoms
Both these conditions cause painful muscle contractions in your arms or legs. However, cerebral palsy can also cause dysarthria (difficulty speaking), convulsions, dysphagia (problems swallowing), increased drooling and urinary incontinence, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Causes
The NINDS says that dystonias can be idiopathic and have no particular cause. Sometimes, dystonias are inherited. Unlike dystonias, cerebral palsy may be due to head injuries, brain bleeds or infections.
Population
MedlinePlus says that cerebral palsy commonly develops within the first two years of life. Dystonias can occur in childhood, during adolescence and adulthood, says the NINDS.
Treatment
Both conditions can be treated with medications, surgery and physical therapy.
Outlook
Both dystonias and cerebral palsy are chronic disorders that are not life threatening.
