tremor

Last reviewed 05/2022

Tremor is an unintentional, rhythmic, oscilatory muscle movement involving one or more parts of the body (1)

• it is the most common of all involuntary movements
• most tremors occur in the hands
• some times it is a symptom of another neurological disorder

Characteristics of tremors may include (1):

• shaking in the hands, arms, head, legs, or trunk
• shaky voice
• difficulty writing or drawing
• problems holding and controlling utensils, such as a fork.

Tremor can be described on the basis of the circumstances under which it occurs:

• rest tremor
• postural tremor
• intention tremor
• on posture and movement

Tremor is most commonly classified by clinical features and cause:

• essential tremor
• cerebellar tremor
• parkinsonian tremor
• physiological tremor (also called hysterical tremor)
• dystonic tremor
• orthostatic tremor

Reference:

• (1) Tremor fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of Health.2007