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Panyakaew P, Phuenpathom W, Bhidayasiri R, Hallett M. Bedside clinical assessment of patients with common upper limb tremor and algorithmic approach. ASIAN BIOMED 2024; 18:37-52. [PMID: 38708334 PMCID: PMC11063083 DOI: 10.2478/abm-2024-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The diagnostic approach for patients with tremor is challenging due to the complex and overlapping phenotypes among tremor syndromes. The first step in the evaluation of tremor is to identify the tremulous movement and exclude the tremor mimics. The second step is to classify the tremor syndrome based on the characteristics of tremor from historical clues and focused examination (Axis 1). Comprehensive tremor examinations involve the assessment of tremor in different conditions (rest, action or mixed, position or task-specific), distribution of tremor (upper limb, lower limb, head, jaw), positive signs for functional tremor (FT) if suspected (distractibility, entrainment, co-contraction), and associated neurological signs including parkinsonism, dystonic posture, cerebellar/brainstem signs, neuropathy, and cognitive impairment. A pivotal feature in this step is to determine any distinct feature of a specific isolated or combined tremor syndrome. In this review, we propose an algorithm to assess upper limb tremors. Ancillary testing should be performed if clinical evaluation is unclear. The choice of investigation depends on the types of tremors considered to narrow down the spectrum of etiology (Axis 2). Laboratory blood tests are considered for acute onset and acute worsening of tremors, while structural neuroimaging is indicated in unilateral tremors with acute onset, nonclassical presentations, and a combination of neurological symptoms. Neurophysiological study is an important tool that aids in distinguishing between tremor and myoclonus, etiology of tremor and document specific signs of FT. Treatment is mainly symptomatic based depending on the etiology of the tremor and the patient's disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattamon Panyakaew
- Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok10330, Thailand
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok10330, Thailand
| | - Warongporn Phuenpathom
- Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok10330, Thailand
| | - Roongroj Bhidayasiri
- Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok10330, Thailand
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok10330, Thailand
- The Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok10330, Thailand
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1428, USA
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Xia Y, Wang M, Zhu Y. The Effect of Cerebellar rTMS on Modulating Motor Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders: a Systematic Review. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:954-972. [PMID: 36018543 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01465-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The effectiveness of cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on motor dysfunction in patients with neurological disorders has received increasing attention because of its potential for neuromodulation. However, studies on the neuromodulatory effects, parameters, and safety of rTMS implementation in the cerebellum to alleviate motor dysfunction are limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cerebellar rTMS treatment for motor dysfunction caused by neurological disorders and to review popular stimulation parameters. Five electronic databases-Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase-were searched for relevant research published from inception to July 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported the effects of cerebellar rTMS combined with behavioral rating scales on motor dysfunction were eligible for enrollment. Additionally, reference lists of the enrolled studies were manually checked. Among 1156 articles screened, 21 RCTs with 666 subjects were included. rTMS conducted on the cerebellum showed an improvement in stroke (spasticity, balance, and gait), cervical dystonia, Parkinson's disease (tremor), cerebellar ataxia, and essential tremor but not in multiple sclerosis. The 8-shaped coil with a diameter of 70 mm was determined as the most common therapeutic choice. None of the studies reported severe adverse events except mild side effects in three. Therefore, rTMS appears to be a promising and safe technique for the treatment of motor dysfunction, targeting the cerebellum to induce motor behavioral improvement. Further rigorous RCTs, including more samples and longer follow-up periods, are required to precisely explore the effective stimulation parameters and possible mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Xia
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Yangpu District, No. 200 Hengren Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingqi Wang
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Yangpu District, No. 200 Hengren Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yulian Zhu
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Yangpu District, No. 200 Hengren Road, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Jing'an District, No. 12 Wulumuqi road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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Lenka A, Pandey S. Dystonia and tremor: Do they have a shared biology? INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 169:413-439. [PMID: 37482399 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia and tremor are the two most commonly encountered hyperkinetic movement disorders encountered in clinical practice. While there has been substantial progress in the research on these two disorders, there also exists a lot of gray areas. Entities such as dystonic tremor and tremor associated with dystonia occupy a major portion of the "gray zone". In addition, there is a marked clinical heterogeneity and overlap of several clinical and epidemiological features among dystonia and tremor. These facts raise the possibility that dystonia and tremor could be having shared biology. In this chapter, we revisit critical aspects of this possibility that may have important clinical and research implications in the future. We comprehensively review the points in favor and against the theory that dystonia and tremor have shared biology from clinical, epidemiological, genetic and neuroimaging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Lenka
- Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sanjay Pandey
- Department of Neurology, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, Delhi National Capital Region, India.
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Frei K, Truong DD. Medications used to treat tremors. J Neurol Sci 2022; 435:120194. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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