Tremor
Getting the tremor under control
When your hand becomes less steady and eventually begins to tremble, it is an unmistakable sign of ageing. Sometimes, our hands shake for other reasons, such as cold, fear or too much coffee. However, a clearly visible tremor can also be a symptom of a disease or even the disease itself. It can also occur in patients over the age of 20 years.At Schoen Clinic, we specialise in diseases of the nerves and brain. We can treat your tremors well using effective therapies. The earlier, the better.

Causes & symptoms
What is a tremor?
A tremor is actually a movement disorder. It most often occurs in the hands or arms, but the torso or the head can also be affected. At least one in every hundred people in Germany suffers from an essential tremor, i.e. a tremor without a recognisable neurological disease. When it comes to this form, several members of the family are often affected. The tremor intensifies when the muscles are tense, i.e. when you want to write, drink or eat. It is exactly the other way round in Parkinson’s patients. Here, the tremor decreases when you do activities.A tremor can occur in different situations:
- Resting tremor:
It occurs when the muscles are completely relaxed, for example when your hand is lying on a table. If the affected person has to concentrate on an upcoming task, the tremor usually intensifies. A resting tremor is typical of Parkinson’s disease. - Action tremor:
There are three subtypes of tremor: postural tremor, kinetic tremor and intention tremor.
A postural tremor always occurs when the affected person needs strength to hold a finger, arm or leg in position. Trembling when holding a glass of water is typical of this. A postural tremor is a characteristic of an essential tremor, but also occurs in Parkinson’s patients.
A kinetic tremor appears with certain movements. For example, it impedes writing or playing the piano. A kinetic tremor is also typical of an essential tremor.
In an intention tremor, tremors increase when the target of a particular movement is reached or “within reach”. This happens, for example, when a finger is led towards a certain point.