Difficulty Buttoning Shirt

About the Symptom

This describes the difficulty in buttoning clothes due to a loss of fine motor skills.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Neck pain / stiffness
• Impossible to walk normally
• Numbness / sensory disorder
• Involuntary movements
• Back pain
• Fine tremor of the fingers

Possible Causes

Generally, Difficulty buttoning shirt can be related to:

• Parkinson's Disease

  A progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. It occurs due to nerve cell damage in the brain. The exact cause for PD is unknown. Risk factors include genetics, male gender, old age, and exposure to certain toxins and environmental factors.

• Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL)

  Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a condition where a flexible structure called the posterior longitudinal ligament becomes thicker and less flexible.

• Telangiectasia Ataxia

  Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare, inherited disorder that affects the nervous system, immune system, and other body systems starting in childhood, typically before age 5. It causes progressive difficulty with coordinating movements (ataxia), increased risk of cancer and infections. The disorder is due to mutations in the ATM gene, which controls the production of an enzyme that regulates cell division after DNA damage.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Is buttoning shirts difficult for you?
• How long have you had difficulty buttoning clothes?
• Has your difficulty with buttoning clothes changed recently?

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