|  | Conditions Treatments | Genetic Disorders

Physical Therapy Interventions for Essential Tremors

Essential tremor is defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) as "an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations) of one or more parts of the body." This condition can be relatively mild and show no signs of progression or in more serious cases can slowly spread from one side of the body to the other. Physical therapy has proved helpful to some patients, particularly those with milder symptoms.

  1. Treatment

    • The cause of essential tremor is unknown, meaning that there is no cure for this disorder. However, the NINDS points out, there are a handful of measures that can be taken to reduce the severity of the condition's symptoms. These include the use of such medications as primidone, an anticonvulsant, and beta blockers like propranolol. Because caffeine and other stimulants tend to trigger the symptoms of essential tremor, minimize your use of these. If the condition has interfered with your performance of everyday tasks, the NINDS suggests that physical therapy can help to improve muscle control and coordination.

    Preventing Falls

    • Neal Hermanowicz, M.D., director of movement disorder services at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center, sees a limited role for physical therapy in the treatment of essential tremor. He believes, however, that it can be useful for patients who are experiencing balance problems, which increase the risk of potentially injurious falls. If you or a loved one with essential tremor is experiencing problems with balance, Hermanowicz suggests that you consult a physical therapist who is familiar with problems of balance and walking.

    Other Interventions

    • NeurologyChannel.com says physical therapy can help you to control tremors of the legs, arms, hands and trunk and also suggests that a speech therapist be consulted if your tremor symptoms are causing language problems. MayoClinic.com notes that physical and occupational therapists sometimes can suggest adaptive devices that make it easier to perform everyday tasks that your tremor symptoms otherwise might make difficult or even impossible. Examples of such devices include wide writing implements that are easier to grip, wrist weights to minimize tremors of the hands and lower arms, and heavier plates, eating utensils and glasses.

    A Warning

    • The International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) warns that essential tremor patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery must be careful to avoid diathermy, a method of generating heat in tissue with electrical currents that is widely used by physical therapists. "The heat from the diathermy can be transferred to the brain through the DBS electrode resulting in brain damage and rarely death."

Genetic Disorders - Related Articles