Call your health care provider if:

People with abnormal posturing almost always have reduced consciousness. Anyone who shows symptoms of abnormal posturing should be examined right away by a health care provider.

In some conditions, such as a coma, these behaviors can continue for a long time.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

All abnormal posturing should be treated in a hospital. This kind of movement is most often seen in patients who are in a coma. More subtle posturing that is caused by a doctor at a medical visit may not be as serious.

At the hospital, emergency treatment for abnormal posturing must be started right away. This includes placing a breathing tube and providing breathing assistance. The person will likely be placed in the hospital intensive care unit.

The medical history will be obtained from family members. A physical examination will be performed.

Medical history questions may include:

• When did this behavior start?
• Is there a pattern to the occurrences?
• Is it always the same type of posture?
• What other symptoms came before or occurred during the abnormal posturing?
• Is there any history or injury (such as a known head injury)?

The physical examination will include a complete brain and nervous system evaluation.

Tests may include:

• Cerebral angiography
• EEG
• Head CT scan
• Head MRI scan
• Head x-ray
• ICP monitoring (monitoring of the pressure inside the brain)