writer's cramp

n. pl. writers' cramps A cramp or spasm of the muscles of the fingers, hand, and forearm during writing.

writer's cramp

n (Pathology) a muscular spasm or temporary paralysis of the muscles of the thumb and first two fingers caused by prolonged writing

writ′er's cramp`

n. spasmodic, painful contractions of the muscles of the hand and forearm from constant writing. [1850–55]

Thesaurus

Noun

writer's cramp - muscular spasms of thumb and forefinger while writing with a pen or pencilgraphospasmcramp, muscle spasm, spasm - a painful and involuntary muscular contraction

Translations

writer's cramp

A cramp in one's hand that arises from gripping a pen or pencil too tightly or for too long at a time. I started getting writer's cramp about two hours into the exam. She was taking notes so fastidiously during class that I worried she'd end up with writer's cramp.See also: cramp

writer's cramp

A painful spasm in the hand that restricts the ability to use a pen or pencil. Back in the Paleozoic Era when people wrote by hand instead of typewriters and then computers (you youngsters can ask your parents or grandparents if you don't believe me), excessive use of a pen or pencil would cause a person's hand to tense up or go into a spasm that made further writing painful or impossible or both. The condition wasn't called “repetitive stress syndrome” back then. It was “writer's cramp,” and that was no excuse for the schoolroom punishment of being made to write “I will not talk in class” one hundred times on the blackboard.See also: cramp

Writer's Cramp

Writer’s Cramp

(writer’s palsy, writer’s spasm, graphospasm), a disturbance of the writing function that occurs even though the muscles of the hand remain fully capable of performing other movements. Writer’s cramp is observed in neuroses and organic diseases of the nervous system and is often a manifestation of occupational pathology. It is characterized by dystonia, an uneven tone in the muscles used in writing. Certain muscles experience a spasm (tonic tension); pain spreads through the entire arm, neck, and face, the fingers holding the pen assume an unnatural position, and writing becomes impossible. There are various clinical forms of writer’s cramp: convulsive, algetic, trembling, and paralytic; most often these occur in combination in patients with a history of neurotic symptoms. In treatment the patient is advised to temporarily stop writing and is prescribed tranquilizers, B-complex vitamins, and exercise, massage, baths, and other physiotherapeutic procedures.

REFERENCES

Davidenkov, S. N. Klinicheskie lektsiipo nervnym bolezniam. Leningrad, 1956.
Barré, J. A. “La Crampe des écrivains, maladie organique, ses formes, ses causes.” Revue neurologique, 1952, vol. 86, no. 6, p. 703.

V. B. GEL’FAND

writer's cramp

writ·er's cramp

an occupational dystonia affecting chiefly the muscles of the thumb and two adjoining fingers of the writing hand, induced by excessive use of a pen or pencil. Synonym(s): dysgraphia (2) , graphospasm, scrivener's palsy

writer's cramp

n. pl. writers' cramps A cramp or spasm of the muscles of the fingers, hand, and forearm during writing.

writer's cramp

Conscious immobility Neurology A transient focal dystonia, often occupational neurosis of the hand and sometimes the forearm, characterized by a loss of skilled motor sequences–eg, handwriting, which may be a psychogenic conversion reaction

writ·er's cramp

(rītĕrz kramp) Occupational dystonia affecting chiefly the muscles of the thumb and two adjoining fingers of the writing hand, induced by excessive use of a pen or pencil.

writer's cramp

A psychological disorder causing spasm of the muscles involved in holding a pen or pencil so writing becomes impossible. Other activities using the same muscles are usually unaffected. The condition is probably due to a mistaken vocation. Writers using word processors may develop a REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY.

writer's cramp

writer's cramp

writer's cramp

writ′er's cramp`

writer's cramp

writer's cramp

writer's cramp

Writer's Cramp

Writer’s Cramp

REFERENCES

writer's cramp

writ·er's cramp

writer's cramp

writer's cramp

writ·er's cramp

writer's cramp

writer's cramp

Synonyms for writer's cramp

noun muscular spasms of thumb and forefinger while writing with a pen or pencil

Synonyms

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