What are Movement Disorders?
Movement disorders are a group of neurological conditions that cause abnormal, often involuntary, movements. These disorders can result in either excessive movement (such as tremor) or diminished movement that is not due to muscle weakness. Common movement disorders include Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, ataxia,
Huntington's disease, and Tourette syndrome. Understanding and managing these disorders can significantly improve a person’s quality of life.
Overview
The Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Program at the George Washington University provides comprehensive care for patients with a wide range of movement disorders. Our mission is to deliver personalized, state-of-the-art treatments that
address the unique needs of each individual. Through a combination of innovative therapies, expert medical guidance, multi-disciplinary expertise and compassionate care, we strive to enhance the lives of our patients and their families.
Conditions Treated
We specialize in diagnosing and treating various movement disorders, including but not limited to:
- Parkinson's Disease and other Parkinsonian disorders: Progressive neurological disorders that can cause tremor (shaking), stiffness, slowness, walking issues small steps) and balance problems, among other symptoms.
- Essential Tremor: A neurological condition that causes rhythmic tremor (shaking) when using that part of the body. It usually affects the hands, but other body parts, such as the head or voice can also be affected.
- Dystonia: A condition in which one’s muscles contract uncontrollably, causing repetitive, twisting movements or abnormal postures. This can affect any body part, including the facial muscles, neck muscles or limbs.
- Ataxia: A condition that impacts coordination and balance due to damage to the movement and balance centers of the nervous system.
- Huntington's Disease: A genetic progressive condition that causes excessive, fidgeting movements, as well as memory issues, other cognitive problems and changes in mood.
- Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders: A disorder causing repetitive movements or sounds (tics) that cannot be easily controlled.
- Other conditions: myoclonus, chorea, restless leg syndrome, hemifacial spasms,
and functional movement disorders.
Treatments Offered
We provide a wide range of advanced treatments and therapies tailored to each patient's needs. These include:
- Deep Brain Stimulation Program
Our clinic offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary deep brain stimulation (DBS) pre-operative evaluations and post-operative care for treatment of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Advanced programming techniques are utilized for optimal outcomes. - Focused Ultrasound Program
This incisionless treatment uses high-frequency sound waves to target and destroy affected brain areas to treat tremor. Focused ultrasound is particularly effective for patients with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease who may not respond well to medication. - Ultrasound-Guided and EMG-guided Botulinum Toxin Injections
Botulinum toxin injections are used to relieve symptoms of dystonia and other movement disorders. Our advanced-guided techniques ensure precise targeting of affected muscles, maximizing effectiveness and minimizing side effects. - Comprehensive Medical Management
We offer personalized medication plans and therapy options to manage symptoms and improve daily functioning and incorporate the latest treatment options to our patients. - Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy
Our clinic collaborates with specialists to provide rehabilitative care, focusing on improving mobility, strength, and independence.
Faculty
Our team is comprised of highly skilled and dedicated physicians specializing in movement disorders: Dr. Pritha Ghosh and Dr. Panagiotis Kassavetis are Board- Certified Neurologists and fellowship-trained in Movement Disorders. We have extensive experience in advanced treatments such as deep brain stimulation and botulinum toxin injections. We collaborate extensively with Physical therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech therapy, Clinical Neuropsychology and the Department of Neurosurgery to provide comprehensive care for our patients.
Research and Education
At the Movement Disorders Clinic, we are deeply committed to advancing knowledge and treatment options for movement disorders. We are expanding our research, and we provide education to medical students, residents, and fellows, fostering the next generation of experts in neurology and movement disorders. We also prioritize providing health-related education to our patients, their caregivers and the local community, as we recognize that understanding one’s condition is a critical first step to treating movement disorders.
Why Choose Us?
- Expertise: Our team consists of nationally recognized experts in movement disorders with advanced fellowship training in movement disorders.
- Innovation: We offer the latest advancements in diagnosis and treatment, including advanced procedures such as Focused Ultrasound and Deep Brain Stimulation.
- Comprehensive Care: From diagnosis to rehabilitation, we provide a holistic approach to managing movement disorders.
- Patient-Centered Approach: We prioritize understanding each patient’s unique
needs and tailoring treatment accordingly.
We are dedicated to helping patients regain control and improve their quality of life.
Together, we can help you move forward.
Clinic Information
The Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic is located in GW Medicine Building (Foggy Bottom, South Pavilion) at 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 7 th floor. To schedule an appointment or learn more about our services, please contact us at 202-741-2700.