Characterizing a Common Class of Spontaneous Movements

This paper describes spontaneous movements that occur without underlying pathology. These movements happen in various settings, including therapeutic, social, and religious contexts. Anecdotal evidence suggests they relate to development and maintenance of form. The authors aim to increase awareness of these movements and provide a foundation for research into their healing potential. They describe contexts, illustrate with case reports, and characterize movements by triggers, phenotypes, and influences. Spontaneous movements are health-promoting and beneficial. The goal is to provide a basis for scientific study, describing what occurs as a first step for future scientific investigation of the how and why it occurs.

• 1
  Spontaneous movements are seen as beneficial experiences with positive therapeutic effects. These characteristics are usually present, but individuals with spontaneous movements do not display all of these characteristics all of the time.
• 2
  Spontaneous movements often generate a pleasurable, reward-like sensation, feeling appropriate and health-promoting. However, they can become repetitively stuck. Clinical intervention can help with this.
• 3
  Spontaneous movements can usually be stopped voluntarily and influenced by conscious movements, distinguishing them from movement disorders.