Essential Tremor Suppression with a Novel Anti-Tremor Orthosis: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder causing action tremor, significantly impacting daily activities.
• Current treatments like pharmacotherapy and surgery have limitations, necessitating novel solutions.
• Orthotic devices offering joint damping present a potential accessible treatment for ET.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a new anti-tremor orthosis (STIL) in reducing essential tremor.
• To assess both clinical and objective (accelerometry) measures of tremor reduction.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, single-blinded, crossover trial involving 24 ET patients.
• Comparison of three conditions: no orthosis, a sham device, and the active anti-tremor orthosis.
• Assessment using the Tremor Research Group Essential Tremor Rating Scale (TETRAS) and accelerometry.

Main Results:

• The anti-tremor orthosis significantly decreased TETRAS scores compared to baseline and sham conditions.
• Tremor power, measured by accelerometry, was substantially reduced by the orthosis (87.4% vs. baseline).
• High patient satisfaction (71%) was reported, with minor adverse events.

Conclusions:

• The anti-tremor orthosis demonstrates a clinically significant tremor-reducing effect in essential tremor patients.
• This device shows potential as a new, accessible treatment for managing ET during daily activities.
• Further research may explore its long-term efficacy and broader application.