# “Gol-Gappa” Dystonia – A Novel Form of Focal Task-Specific Dystonia

## TL;DR

A new type of focal dystonia linked to making Indian street food is described, showing how repetitive tasks can cause movement disorders.

## Contribution

The paper introduces 'Gol-gappa dystonia,' a culturally specific, task-related movement disorder.

## Key findings

- A 30-year-old man developed dystonia only while preparing Gol-gappa, a task requiring precise hand movements.
- Botulinum toxin injections improved task performance by 70% within two weeks.
- This case expands the known range of task-specific dystonias and highlights a cultural occupational context.

## Abstract

Task-specific dystonias (TSDs) are focal movement disorders triggered by highly repetitive, skilled motor tasks, often within profession-specific contexts. Although upper limb TSDs are well documented, culturally unique forms continue to emerge.

We present a case of a 30-year-old right-handed male who developed focal dystonia exclusively while preparing Gol-gappa (paani puri), an Indian street food requiring repetitive, precise hand movements to fill puris with spiced stuffing. Neurological examination and neuroimaging were unremarkable. Electromyography guided botulinum toxin injections into affected forearm and hand flexors resulted in approximately 70% improvement in task performance within two weeks.

Gol-gappa dystonia represents a novel, culturally specific variant of occupational TSD. This case broadens the recognized spectrum of task-specific dystonias and supports the role of targeted botulinum therapy as an effective intervention.