Do your limbs tremble when you aim to do something? Let's learn about Intention Tremor!

Do you suddenly start to shake your hand when you bring a cup of coffee to your mouth, when you pick up a pen to sign a document, or when you try to button your shirt? Does this tremor seem to increase as you get closer to what you are about to do, that is, the goal? This is something that scares and worries many people. This is not a normal tremor. Today, we will talk about this specific condition, which is known in medical science as Intention Tremor .

Simply put, what is Intention Tremor?

Intention Tremor is an involuntary muscle tremor. But it is not just any tremor. It occurs only when you are trying to do something with a purpose or goal. This tremor does not occur when you are just standing still. Another feature of this is that the tremor increases as your hand or leg gets closer to the target. Imagine that you are trying to touch your nose with your finger. As your finger gets closer to your nose, the tremor becomes severe and your hand starts to swing back and forth in a zigzag pattern. This can affect the hands, legs, and sometimes the muscles that help you speak. Then the voice sounds like it is trembling. Doctors also call this condition 'Cerebellar Tremor'. The reason for this is that this condition is directly related to damage to the 'cerebellum' or the part of our brain called the cerebellum . The Cerebellum is the main center that coordinates our movements.

Are there other symptoms that come with Intention Tremor?

Yes. When the cerebellum is damaged, not only tremors but also other neurological symptoms may appear. Because the cerebellum is very important for the coordination of movements in our body. Let's explain this more in the table below.

What causes this shaking?

As we mentioned earlier, the primary cause of this is damage to the cerebellum part of the brain. There are various medical conditions and other causes that can cause this damage. Here are some of the main reasons:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): This is the most common cause of Intention Tremor. It is an autoimmune disease.
• Stroke: The cerebellum can be damaged by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): An impact to the head, especially the back of the head, from an accident.
• Brain Tumors: Tumors that form in or around the cerebellum.
• Alcohol use disorder: Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time can cause permanent damage to the cerebellum.
• Wilson Disease: A genetic disease caused by the accumulation of copper in the body.
• Spinocerebellar ataxia, ataxia-telangiectasia, and Friedreich's ataxia: These are inherited genetic conditions that affect motor coordination.
• Certain medications: Some medications, especially those for diseases such as epilepsy, can cause this condition as a side effect.
• Mercury poisoning.

What are the treatments for this?

Treatment for Intention Tremor involves finding the underlying cause. For example, if your doctor determines that a medication is causing your tremor, they may recommend stopping the medication or switching to a different medication. Some conditions, like MS, cannot be cured completely. However, there are treatments that can help control the severity of the tremor and make it easier to perform daily activities.

• Physical therapy: A physical therapist helps you improve your body's movement and balance. This includes exercises that strengthen muscles and teach you how to walk.
• Occupational therapy: An occupational therapist can teach you how to do everyday tasks (like eating and getting dressed) with your tremor more easily. This can include using wrist or ankle weights and relaxation techniques.
• Medications: Medications are usually prescribed for Intention Tremor caused by MS.
• Surgery: In some severe cases, especially for MS patients, a brain surgery called Thalamic deep brain stimulation can help reduce tremors.

When should I see a doctor?

This is a very important question. If a doctor has already told you that you have Intention Tremor, seek medical advice again in the following cases:

What is the difference between Essential Tremor and Intention Tremor?

Many people confuse the two. Essential Tremor is the most common type of tremor. It also causes tremors in both hands when performing an action. However, it is not usually accompanied by the other neurological symptoms we discussed earlier (balance problems, eye movements). Intention Tremor is a specific subtype of action tremor. In this tremor, the tremor increases as the target is approached, and other neurological symptoms may also occur due to a problem in the cerebellum.

Does this kind of tremor also occur in Parkinson's disease?

Intention tremor can occur with Parkinson's disease, but it is very rare. The main symptom of Parkinson's disease is resting tremor . This is when your arm or leg shakes when you are at rest (for example, when you are sitting in a chair with your hand on your lap). Intention tremor is the opposite of this, a tremor that occurs when you are doing something (action tremor). intention tremor, tremor, hand tremor, cerebellum, multiple sclerosis, neurological diseases