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Medical Definition of Ballism
1. A type of involuntary movement affecting the proximal limb musculature, manifested as jerking, flinging movements of the extremity; caused by a lesion of or near the contralateral subthalamic nucleus. Usually only one side of the body is involved, resulting in hemiballismus. Synonym: ballism. Origin: G. Ballismos, a jumping about (05 Mar 2000)