Tremor is uncontrollable rhythmic movement of a limb produced by muscle contractions. Tremor is common in a condition called Essential Tremor and in Parkinson's disease. Tremor may significantly interfere with a person's ability to lead a normal lifestyle.

Essential tremor (ET) is a movement disorder characterized by uncontrollable shaking (tremors) in different parts and on different sides of the body. Areas affected often include the hands, arms, head, larynx (voice box), tongue, chin, and other areas. In rare cases, the lower body is affected.

There is no cure for tremor or its underlying causes. However, effective treatment can help control symptoms. For people with Essential Tremor, propranolol and primidone are the most frequently used medications. Tremor in Parkinson's disease is generally treated with levodopa and other drugs.

There is no cure for ET, but treatments that provide relief from its symptoms may be helpful in improving quality of life. These include medications and surgical procedures that ease tremor. Not every treatment or procedure is effective for every person with ET. Your doctor will recommend an individualized treatment plan, including certain lifestyle changes that may help to reduce your tremors.

There is currently no evidence that alternative therapies are beneficial in treating ET. Patients who have tremors that worsen with emotional stress may find relaxation therapies helpful, but this type of alternative therapy is certainly not a treatment. Some herbal supplements may actually increase tremor. Always consult your doctor before trying any alternative therapy.

Activa Tremor Control Therapy is an adapatable and reversible non-destructive therapy that uses small electrical pulses to stimulate the brain and block the brain signals that cause tremor. The therapy involves the implantation of an insulated wire lead in the thalamus area of the brain. The lead is connected by an extension to an Implantable Pulse Generator (like a cardiac pacemaker) implanted beneath the skin in the chest area.

Tremor Control Therapy significantly reduces tremor in more than 80% of patients who have had the system implanted. The amount of tremor reduction varies. Most people experience almost complete relief from tremor on the side stimulated. Reduction in tremor is associated with improvement in performance of activities of daily living. Some people experience partial tremor relief, allowing them to be more functional. Some people may not benefit.

Thalamotomy is a type of brain surgery that involves making a lesion (controlled destruction of brain tissue) in the thalamus, the area of the brain that produces tremors. Thalamotomy has been shown to effectively reduce tremor in some patients. However, it is not frequently performed because of the risk of disabling and permanent side effects, such as problems with balance, speech, and numbness.

Thousands of people worldwide are benefiting from this therapy. It has been available in Europe, Canada and Australia since 1995.

The procedures for tremor control include Deep Brain Stimulation (above ), Thalamotomy and Pallidotomy. Thalamotomy is a neurosurgical procedure that involves the placement of a surgical lesion within the thalamus region of the brain. The thalamus is located deep within the brain, near its base, and serves as a major relay station for impulses traveling from the spinal cord and cerebellum to the cerebral cortex.