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Exercises for Shaky Hands

Jun 23, 2011 | By Solomon Nwhator
Exercises for Shaky Hands
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Hand movements are controlled by tiny muscles. While you are awake, the muscles contract and relax, resulting in minor twitches that are perfectly normal and inconsequential. When you experience shaky hands serious enough to affect daily activities such as writing, drinking from a cup or using flatware, however, seek medical advice because it could be a sign of underlying problems. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that there's no cure for most tremors. Some exercises could alleviate the severity of shaky hands.

Possible Causes

You can experience shaky hands now and again when you are hungry and low on sugar. According to The University of Maryland Medical Center, drinking too much coffee, alcoholism, normal aging, medications, stress and fatigue could be the culprits. Medical conditions including an overactive thyroid, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis could also be responsible for shaky hands. While treatment corrects shaky hands caused by specific medical conditions, essential tremors are better corrected with exercise because such tremors can't be traced to any medical condition.

Deep-Breathing Excercises

Deep-breathing exercises are generally useful for stressful conditions. Since stress is an important part of many disorders, including shaky hands, deep-breathing exercises have been suggested by PubMed Health for the relief of shaky hand symptoms. Practice deep breathing to enable you relax better. Deep breathing can reduce stress and tension thereby reducing the severity of shaky hands.

Strength-Training Exercises

A group of researchers at the University of Iowa studied the benefits of strength training exercises for shaky hands among 33 subjects. Their findings, which were published in May 2000 edition of "Muscle & Nerve," showed that strength training using a variety of light and heavy loads improved hand steadiness among sufferers. The Mayor Clinic also recommends strength-training exercises using relatively heavy flatware and wrist weights to reduce the severity of shaky hands.

When Exercises Don't Work

If it looks like you're not benefiting from exercises, rule out other causes of shaky hands, because not all cases benefit from exercise. Decrease your coffee intake and take a little more time to meditate and sleep. Eliminate alcohol from your list of beverages if you can. Seek medical advice if the onset of shaky hands coincides with taking new medications, and have your blood sugar checked to rule out diabetes. Seek urgent medical help if shaky hands persist in severity despite all these changes.

References

Article reviewed by Matt Olberding Last updated on: Jun 23, 2011

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