Writer’s Cramp

Writer’s cramp is a type of dystonia (disease in which your muscles contract involuntarily), causing uncontrollable repetitive or twisting movements. It is also known as mogigraphia or scrivener's palsy. Writer’s cramp is classified as a focal dystonia, meaning that it affects only one region of the body. If you are suffering from writer’s cramp, writing becomes painful and your handwriting becomes less legible.

There are two types of writer’s cramp - simple and dystonic. Simple writer’s cramp appears when performing just one specific task such as writing. It is usually caused by:

• Over use of the hand

• Poor writing posture

• Poor way of holding a writing instrument

• Muscle strain due to pressing the writing instrument down too hard on the paper and can lead to spasms and pain

In rare cases, difficulties in writing are caused by dystonic writer’s cramp also called complex writer’s cramp which means symptoms will be present not only when writing, but also when performing other activities such as shaving, using eating utensils or applying make-up.

When to seek expert advise

If you are experiencing difficulty and/or pain while writing, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor immediately. You can obtain additional information and expert medical advice from the highly trained and internationally accredited staff at the <Mind and Brain Service Line> at The Aga Khan University Hospital.​

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