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Orthostatic tremor (shaky legs syndrome)
1Geelong Hospital, Victoria.
Clinical and Experimental Neurology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Orthostatic tremor, a condition causing instability when standing, significantly improves with benzodiazepine treatment. This disabling disorder may be more common than previously thought, affecting older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Orthostatic tremor is characterized by instability of the trunk and lower limbs when standing still.
- This tremor is often diminished or abolished by walking, presenting a diagnostic challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical characteristics of orthostatic tremor.
- To evaluate the efficacy of benzodiazepine treatment for orthostatic tremor.
Main Methods:
- Case series describing nine patients with orthostatic tremor.
- Assessment of treatment response to clonazepam and chlordiazepoxide.
Main Results:
- Patients experienced disabling tremor when standing, improving with ambulation.
- Eight out of nine patients showed significant improvement with clonazepam or chlordiazepoxide therapy.
- The condition demonstrated a progressive worsening over time.
Conclusions:
- Orthostatic tremor is a distinct and disabling neurological condition.
- Benzodiazepine medications are effective treatments for orthostatic tremor.
- The prevalence of orthostatic tremor may be underestimated.