Is this a motor tic?

[D.Grimes]

My 6 year old daughter has two facial tics.  Eye blinking and nose twitching.  They come and go and she has had them for about 7 months now.  For the past month, when we are walking somewhere she has to stop and twist her feet from side to side (bending at ankle).  When asked why she is doing this, she says that she does not have control.  She HAS to stretch her legs.  She can go for a couple of days without doing this, to just doing it once or twice in one day, to doing it every couple of steps.  She has also done it while laying in bed (though not as often).  Is this a form of a motor tic?  I'm concerned that she will have Torette (spell ?).  If this is a motor tic would it indicate that she has a higher chance of developing Torettes?  She has been seen by of pediatric neurologist for the two facial ticks and we were told that they could not tell us at that time if it would lead to Torettes.

Thank you for any advice you can give us in this matter.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your daughter displays multiple motor tics. Tourette Disorder manifests itself as both motor and vocal tics, and it is possible that your daughter will develop this condition (though by no means is it certain). Be sure to let the pediatric neurologist know about the movements in her feet. If the movements are voluntary, they are not tics (they could be, for example, compulsive behaviors, though this is not likely).