Sway patterns in a case of orthostatic tremor responsive to alcohol

Abstract

We describe changes in the extent of sway in a man with orthostatic tremor (OT) who reported increased stability after alcohol. He was tested at baseline and again after 40 g (0.5 g/kg) of alcohol. These results were compared to those of 3 age-matched controls (no alcohol). The patient's baseline sway was greater than controls, larger in the lateral than the anteroposterior plane, but retained normal responsiveness to the use of external support, increasing stance width, and vision. Tremor frequency significantly decreased after alcohol, as did low- and high-frequency tremor amplitude and the extent of body sway. Despite these findings, sway remained greater than controls. OT thus may show functionally important alcohol responsiveness.

Blinded placebo crossover study of gabapentin in primary orthostatic tremor

“…Furthermore, these data are easily obtained during static posturography without requiring additional recording devices attached to patients. This method of measuring OT was first described by Yarrow and colleagues10 and has been used successfully to quantitate OT treatment response in a previous case study 12. EMG findings in OT are of lower limb tremor bursting, which alternates between agonist and antagonist muscle pairs and is homologous between limbs, though this relationship may transiently break down 13.…”

Substance abuse and movement disorders

“…So‐called “orthostatic tremor” (a misnomer, as the tremor is abolished when the subject is suspended by harness) reportedly improved after ethanol ingestion; both frequency and amplitude decreased 33…”