Alien hand syndrome, when the hand moves uncontrollably

Have you ever heard of Alien Hand Syndrome? Hearing its name may make you shudder because you imagine the shape of the hand that changes to resemble the aliens that often appear in movies. However, this condition is not the case. This condition causes the hands to move without control. What is the full explanation? Check out the following reviews.

What is Alien Hand Syndrome?

Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS) does not cause hand deformities like aliens. However, this condition is a rare neurological condition that causes one hand to act without a command from the brain.

The hand seemed to have a separate central nervous system. This is different from tremors (shaking hands).

This rare syndrome has quite a number of names. Starting from anarchist hand syndrome to Dr. syndrome. Strangelove - the name of a movie character who has a deformity in his hands.

This self-moving hand syndrome is more common in children. However, it is possible that adults can also experience it.

Despite the name alien hand syndrome, in fact this condition can sometimes also occur in the feet.

What are the symptoms of Alien Hand Syndrome?

Hand movements are influenced by conscious brain control. For example, when you want to scratch, your brain sends commands to the nerves and muscles around your hand to scratch the itchy area.

Now, people who have Alien Hand Syndrome will usually have difficulty controlling the movements made by the hands.

Hands can do a task on their own without a command from the brain. In fact, it refuses what the brain tells you to do. For example, unbutton a shirt that you just buttoned.

People with this syndrome assume that the hand is not part of their limb because they are unable to control it. This is the most prominent symptom of self-moving hand syndrome.

What causes alien hand syndrome?

The main cause of Alien Hand Syndrome is a brain disorder or problem. This has been linked to several conditions, such as:

• Have had or had a stroke or tumor on the head.
• Have had an injury or trauma to the head that caused a lesion / injury in the parietal cortex.
• Have cancer, brain aneurysms, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Have had surgery to treat epilepsy and surgery around the corpus callosum (the bridge between the left and right brain).

How is alien hand syndrome diagnosed?

Until now, there is no medical test that can definitively detect Alien Hand Syndrome.

However, the doctor will determine the diagnosis through observation and evaluation of the patient's medical history, symptoms, and various medications.

Diagnosing this rare syndrome is difficult because it has no psychiatric or psychiatric component. The symptoms of Alien Hand Syndrome are sometimes more often associated with behavioral or psychiatric problems.

Treatment for people with alien hand syndrome

Alien Hand Syndrome cannot be cured. However, the symptoms can be relieved by alternative medical treatments. Currently, scientists are doing more in-depth research and developing a self-propelled hand syndrome treatment.

Cognitive therapy medication and visuospatial training (practice holding and placing objects) are quite effective in people with AHS due to stroke. Their condition recovered during routine therapy.

Unfortunately, this method is less effective in people who experience neurodegenerative AHS. They are more potent when treated with muscle control therapy, namely by injecting botulinum toxin (Botox) and neuromuscular blocking agents.

To prevent uncontrolled hand movements, some simple steps can be taken, for example:

• Restraining the problem hand with the other as it begins to move involuntarily
• Providing objects so that the problematic hand holds the object and is prevented from moving without control.
• Place the problem hand between the side thigh as a support so it does not move freely.