Repetitive Movements
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Repetitive movements
Repetitive hand movements
Repetitive actions
Repetitive bodily movements
Face shaking when nervous
About the Symptom
Stereotypic movement disorder is a condition in which a person engages in repetitive, often rhythmic, but purposeless movements. The exact cause is usually unknown but movements tend to increase if the person is stressed, frustrated, or bored. Some things which have been known to cause the disorder are certain physical conditions, head injuries, and certain drugs (such as cocaine).
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Repetitive movements
Possible Causes
Generally, Repetitive movements can be related to:
- Tics
A condition where patients experience a strong, almost irresistible urge to perform an action like shaking their head, squeezing their eyes, or making a particular noise. Most tics improve with the transition to adulthood, but may persist for some. Known triggers include sleep deprivation, excitement, and stress.
- Tuberous Sclerosis
A rare disease caused by genetic mutations that leads to non-cancerous tumors or growths in the brain and other organs. Symptoms can vary widely based on the severity and location of the tumor.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have repetitive head movements such as shaking or nodding?
- How long have you had repetitive movements like head shaking or nodding?
- How has your symptom of repetitive movements evolved recently?
Reviewed By:
Benjamin Kummer, MD (Neurology)
Dr Kummer is Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), with joint appointment in Digital and Technology Partners (DTP) at the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) as Director of Clinical Informatics in Neurology. As a triple-board certified practicing stroke neurologist and informaticist, he has successfully improved clinical operations at the point of care by acting as a central liaison between clinical neurology faculty and DTP teams to implement targeted EHR configuration changes and workflows, as well as providing subject matter expertise on health information technology projects across MSHS. | Dr Kummer also has several years’ experience building and implementing several informatics tools, presenting scientific posters, and generating a body of peer-reviewed work in “clinical neuro-informatics” – i.e., the intersection of clinical neurology, digital health, and informatics – much of which is centered on digital/tele-health, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. He has spearheaded the Clinical Neuro-Informatics Center in the Department of Neurology at ISMMS, a new research institute that seeks to establish the field of clinical neuro-informatics and disseminate knowledge to the neurological community on the effects and benefits of clinical informatics tools at the point of care.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Unintentional and repetitive muscle movements such as head shaking or nodding
- Repetitive actions such as shaking, noding, etc
- Motor stereotypies such as head shaking, nodding
- Tendency to nod repeatedly
- Shaking face without meaning
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Jankovic J, Hallett M, Okun MS, Comella C, Fahn S, Goldman J. Stereotypies. In: Jankovic J, Hallett M, Okun MS, Comella C, Fahn S, Goldman J, eds. Principles and Practice of Movement Disorders. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 16.
Ryan CA, Walter HJ, DeMaso DR. Motor disorders and habits. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 37
Singer HS, Mink JW, Gilbert DL, Jankovic J. Motor stereotypies. In: Singer HS, Mink JW, Gilbert DL, Jankovic J, eds. Movement Disorders in Childhood. 2nd ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2016:chap 8.