Essential tremor is a condition that affects your nervous system. As a result, you experience a rhythmic shaking. This shaking can affect any portion of your body, but most frequently affects your hands. Trembling hands can make it difficult to write, eat, tie your shoes, shave and perform many other daily tasks. Your doctor and physical therapist may recommend the use of wrist weights as part of your physical therapy.
Symptoms
Essential tremor symptoms can occur anywhere in your body, but are most likely to occur in your extremities, especially your hands. Essential tremor usually starts off gradually and will worsen as you continue to make movements and perform daily tasks. Tremors are likely to increase as the result of emotional stress, caffeine, fatigue and extreme temperature changes. Essential tremor can also affect the head, voice and legs. Essential tremor does not lead to other health problems, unlike conditions such as Parkinson's disease, which can alter posture and walking patterns. Essential tremor is normally the result of a genetic mutation.
Diagnose
There is no one specific way to test for essential tremor. Essential tremor is often diagnosed by ruling out other medical conditions. Your doctor is likely to test your nervous system by checking tendon reflexes, muscle tone, muscle strength and your ability to feel certain sensations. Your doctor will also examine your posture and coordination. Blood and urine tests may be conducted in order to test for thyroid disease.
Treatment
Medication is one treatment method for essential tremor. Your doctor may place you on beta blockers or anti-seizure medications, or use Botox or tranquilizer injections, to control your tremors. Physical therapy is also used to help reduce your tremors and improve muscle control and coordination. As a last resort, surgery can be used. This type of surgery is known as deep brain stimulation; it can help determine which portions of your brain are causing the tremors, which can lead to better treatment.
Wrist Weights
Therapists often recommend the use of adaptive devices to help you perform daily activities despite having tremors. These devices include wrist weights -- as well as heavier plates, glasses and eating utensils, and wider, easier-to-use writing tools. Wrist weights are light -- generally one to three pounds -- and soft. These weights are able to be Velcroed to your wrist and used as you complete daily activities. Wrist weights can also help to increase strength in your wrists. When using wrist weights, be careful that you do not swing your hands around freely. This can lead to pain in your upper arm.
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