Table 1 Characteristics of primary orthostatic tremor
From: Lessons I have learned from my patients: everyday life with primary orthostatic tremor
Motor features | Non motor features | Electrophysiological & neuro-imaging findings |
|---|---|---|
Lower body tremor activated on standing position | Fear of falling | Tremor frequency 13–18 Hz (high inter-muscular coherence) |
Tremor absent when sitting and lying | Pain | Brain neuroimaging (MRI) normal range |
Primarily affects the legs and trunk (Tremor may be observed in the shoulders/arms while the patient is presses the hands on a table to support himself/herself) | Anxiety Depression | Normal DAT scan Cerebello-thalamocortical structural and functional abnormalities |
Unsteadiness while standing | Social phobia (Self-withdrawal) | |
Urge to search support to feel stable | ||
Worsening over time (same tremor frequency, increased amplitude) Arm postural tremor (6–8Hz) | Alteration of attention, executive function, visuospatial ability, & visual memory (>60 y.o.) |