Tremor
Classifying tremor by when it appears, separating essential tremor from Parkinson disease, dystonic, drug-induced and functional tremor, and treating essential tremor.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- A tremor is a rhythmic, involuntary oscillation of a body part. The MDS 2018 consensus classifies it on two axes: clinical features (axis 1) and cause (axis 2).
- The first question is when it appears: at rest, on holding a posture, or during movement (kinetic and intention).
- Essential tremor (action, bilateral, often familial) is the commonest movement disorder. Parkinson disease is the main rest tremor; see Parkinson disease.
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Sources
- Consensus statement on the classification of tremors, from the task force on tremor of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Mov Disord 2018;33:75-87International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, 2018
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Neurology. TremorAU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG complete), current eTG edition (version not verified)
- MDS evidence-based review of treatments for essential tremor. Mov Disord 2019;34:950-58International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, 2019
- Evidence-based guideline update: treatment of essential tremor (American Academy of Neurology). Neurology 2011;77:1752-5American Academy of Neurology, 2011 (historical; predates focused ultrasound)
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Deploy to Cloudflare on push to main