Tremor

Author: Dr Daniel Tarsy Harvard Medical School 2008-07-28

Introduction

Tremor is a rhythmic movement of a portion of the body such as the arm, hand, leg, head, voice, or trunk which varies in size but has a relatively constant frequency for an individual patient. Tremor is the most common of all disorders causing involuntary movements. It also occurs from time to time in most normal individuals in the form of an exaggerated physiologic tremor.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Author: Dr Daniel Tarsy Harvard Medical School 2008-07-28

Clinical features of restless legs syndrome

• Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by a very unpleasant discomfort in the legs that occurs when the affected individual is at rest and causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs to relieve the symptoms. The diagnosis is based exclusively on the patient’s description of their symptoms since a physical and neurological examination of the patient shows no abnormalities.

Parkinson's Disease

Author: Dr Daniel Tarsy Harvard Medical School 2008-07-28

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) was described by Dr. James Parkinson in 1817 in “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy.” His description of a “relentlessly progressive disease” causing tremor, gait disturbance, slow movement, and disturbed sleep remains valid, although fortunately, modern treatments have done much to change this early description. Loss of dopamine producing cells in the midbrain was discovered in the middle of the last century, but the underlying cause of this continues to elude researchers. Despite modern technology, the diagnosis of PD continues to be based on the history and physical examination rather than brain imaging or laboratory tests.