Movement Disorder Treatment in Dubai

Movement disorders are a group of brain and nerve conditions that cause abnormal movements. This can be due to damage or malfunction of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Movement disorders can be a result of an underlying disease too. Movement disorders include a wide variety of conditions with a wide variety of symptoms.

The treatment of movement disorders includes the use of pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. If you are seeking movement disorder treatment in Dubai for your child, you can reach out to Dr Arif Khan, the best pediatric neurologist in Dubai.

What are the different types of Movement Disorder?

Ataxia

Ataxia refers to the disturbance in the smooth, accurate and coordination of movements. The most prevalent causes of acute ataxia in children are excessive drug ingestion, drug intoxications, and post-infectious cerebellitis.

Chorea

Chorea occurs as a symptom of a neurologic injury in children. it can be caused by:

A head trauma
Brain injury at birth
Toxic reaction to medications
Genetic disorders
Syndenhams Chorea

Dystonia

Dystonia is characterized by sustained muscle contractions producing repetitive, twisting, and patterned movements. Other symptoms include:

Involuntary turning or twisting of the neck
Slurred speech, drooling
Difficulty swallowing

The most common cause of dystonia in children is Dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Other possible causes include autoimmune disorders, stroke, metabolic disorders, toxins, stroke, and certain medications.

Tic Disorders

Tic Disorders are neurological conditions characterized by repetitive, involuntary muscle movements and sounds. With tic disorders, a child will feel the need to perform unusual acts, such as blinking, sniffing, or making sounds. This is the most common of movement disorder that presents to a neurologists clinic.

Juvenile Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. In this condition, children may begin to struggle to perform tasks they had mastered before, such as writing, counting, etc.

Treatment

There are several treatment options for children with a range of movement disorders. Generally, the treatment is primarily focused on relieving the symptoms, but it also may include an attempt to reduce the frequency of these episodes. The movement disorder treatment in Dubai varies for every child depending on their age, type of movement disorder, and severity of the condition. The treatments include:

Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech-language pathology.
Behavioral or habit reversal therapy
Injections and medications.

Dr. Arif Khan is a qualified and experienced specialist in movement disorder treatment in Dubai. He is also credited with founding the first comprehensive children’s neuroscience center in the region. With a dedicated team of specialists, he monitors the health progress of children and provides the latest therapies for the optimal health of children.

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About the Author

Dr. Arif Khan

Dr. Arif Khan is a British Board-certified Consultant Pediatric Neurologist with over 20 years of experience in pediatrics and neurology. Based in Dubai, he is widely recognized for his expertise in treating children with autism, ADHD, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. He is the founder of Neuropedia, the region’s first comprehensive pediatric neurosciences center, and is known for his compassionate, child-focused approach to specialized neurological care.

After completing his pediatric and pediatric neurology training in the United Kingdom, Dr. Arif worked across leading NHS hospitals, including Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and University Hospitals of Leicester. He later moved to the UAE, where he led major pediatric neurology initiatives and established innovative children’s neuroscience services in the region. He currently practices at Neuropedia, Kids Neuro Clinic, and Fakeeh University Hospital Dubai.

In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Arif is an Associate Professor (Adj.), an accredited examiner for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and the book Pediatrics – A Clinical Handbook.