Distinctive Forms of Tremors - Assignment Example

The only thing that remains unchanged is amplitude.

On the other hand, tremors can be described in various ways. There are four distinct forms of tremors including rest tremor, intention tremor, chorea, and athetosis. The various forms are grouped based on a characteristic moment or the situation of occurrence (Abdo et al., 2010). The resting tremor is identified with various characteristics. It can be perfectly noticed when the affected body part is not in motion and when there is no influence of gravity. The other notable thing is that this type of tremor usually disappears during voluntary actions (Abdo et al., 2010).

The tremor may also be activated through eye closure or distraction. In some cases, the tremor is observed in the arm when the affected person is walking. The other characteristic is that this tremor can be extremely focal (Abdo et al., 2010). The other type of tremor is intention tremor. The tremor occurs through controlled movements. The main characteristic of this tremor is that its amplitude increases with time in the movement until the anticipated target is reached (Abdo et al., 2010). It is easily noticed in patients as they engage in various forms of movement.

On the other hand, chorea is characterized by random movements. The movements are involuntary and experience some form of interruption. The random movement is a result of the difference in timing, duration, direction, or anatomic location (Fung & Wong, 2012). Such random movements may occur in the neck, face, and tongue from one muscle to the other. The other form of tremor is athetosis. It is described as a slow, uninterrupted, and involuntary movement that hinders the continuance of a normal posture (Fung & Wong, 2012). The movements are usually smooth and the flow is not interrupted at any stage.

The assessment and diagnostic tools used in evaluating a patient are crucial in identifying any tremor. There are various methods used in this analysis. The most common form of assessment and diagnosis is through simple clinical observation. The clinicians assess the existence of tremor and also its severity (Hess & Pullman, 2012). However, with the rise of technology, there are new ways of assessing and diagnosing. Digital materials such as accelerometry and electromyography (EMG) provide a better analysis. As a result, tremor is analyzed in real-time and with a high degree of accuracy. The analysis is usually done with frequency and amplitude, and this helps in distinguishing various tremors (Hess & Pullman, 2012). Read More