Tremors
Tremors are involuntary, rhythmic shaking movements in one or more parts of your body. They can make everyday tasks challenging, but they can be managed with treatment.
What are tremors?
Tremors are involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions that result in shaking movements in one or more parts of your body. They can range from mild to severe and occur sometimes or all the time. They’re most common in your hands. But you may also have them in your legs, head, neck, face, vocal cords, chest, pelvis, or back.
Tremors can happen on their own or as a result of another condition. As different types of tremors require different treatments, it’s important to have a specialist make a diagnosis. While they’re not usually life-threatening, they can be challenging to live with and impact your day-to-day life.
At Welbeck, our neurologists provide expert care, diagnosis, and treatment for tremors in our state-of-the-art Neurology centre.
Paediatrics
We offer appointments to paediatric patients aged 12 to 18. For full information on our paediatrics service, please visit our main Paediatrics page.
More information
There are 2 main categories of tremor. The first is what’s known as resting tremor, which happens when your affected body part is relaxed and supported on a surface. Essential tremor and dystonic tremor are types of resting tremor. The second category is action tremor, which happens when you’re intentionally using the muscles in your affected body part. This includes postural tremor and isometric tremor.
Each category and type has different symptoms. However, common symptoms include:
rhythmic shaking or trembling in your affected body part/parts
a shaky voice
difficulty writing, typing, or drawing
difficulty holding and controlling utensils and tools, such as cutlery
It’s normal to have a slight, very mild tremor. This is usually nothing to worry about and doesn’t require treatment. However, slight tremors may become more severe and start to impact your life. Or, you may develop a tremor.
This can be caused by:
certain medications
damaged nerves
damaged muscles
myositis (inflammation of your muscles)
myopathies (weak muscles)
muscle fatigue due to over-exercise
neuropathy (a nerve condition that can cause pain, numbness, and weakness)
motor neurone disease
Parkinson’s disease
multiple sclerosis (MS)
low blood sugar linked to diabetes
alcohol or drug use or withdrawal
brain injury or trauma, such as a stroke
Risk factors for tremors
Your tremors may also become more severe if you:
are over 40
have a family member who has essential tremor
drink caffeine or alcohol
smoke
are very hot or very cold
are tired, stressed, anxious, angry, or upset
At your initial consultation, your neurologist will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll also do a physical and neurological examination to check your balance, reflexes, and cognition.
To determine which type of tremor you have, and therefore what the right treatment option is for you, they may need to run some tests. These could include:
blood tests
a urine test
a CT or MRI scan of your brain
an electromyography (EMG)
a nerve conduction study (NCS)
It’s not possible to prevent tremors. You might be able to reduce how much they impact your daily life by:
avoiding caffeine and alcohol
managing your stress and anxiety
practising relaxation techniques such as meditation and massage
using tools to help make tasks more manageable, such as voice-activated commands on your phone or assistive cutlery
Tremors themselves are not life-threatening, although if they’re linked to an underlying neurological condition, it’s best to treat the condition to prevent further complications.
If you don’t treat or manage them, tremors can get worse over time and may bring new challenges or lead to disabilities. Without management or treatment, this can impact your mental wellbeing and increase your risk of mental health conditions.
There’s no cure for tremors, but there are treatment options that can significantly reduce them and improve your quality of life. Your options will depend on your unique situation, but may include:
oral medication
injections
physical therapy
deep brain stimulation (DBS)
surgery, although this is rare
At Welbeck, our neurologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Get in touch today to book an appointment.
Our specialists
Dr Dominic PaviourConsultant Neurologist
Dr Karen ChungConsultant Neurologist- Dr Nikhil SharmaConsultant Neurologist
Dr Ben TurnerConsultant Neurologist
Professor Erlick PereiraConsultant Neurosurgeon
Professor Guy LeschzinerConsultant Neurologist
Dr Pablo Garcia ReitboeckConsultant Neurologist
Dr Krishna ChinthapalliConsultant Neurologist
Dr Sam DahdalehConsultant Neurologist
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Frequently asked questions
A 2020 review of 40 studies found that a lack of Vitamin D is linked to tremors. Researchers found low vitamin D levels in up to 83% of people with tremors.
Parkinson’s tremors tend to affect the hands and be more pronounced when your hands are in your lap or by your sides. They also often come with stiffness and slowness of movement.
You should seek help if you suddenly develop a tremor. It’s also considered serious if you’re under 50 with no family history of essential tremor, your tremor is getting progressively worse, or you notice changes in your thinking, behaviour, or muscle strength.
Essential tremor is the most common type. It affects around 1% of people across the world, and about 5% of people over 60. It’s thought to be 8 to 10 times more common than Parkinson’s disease.