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Primary Writing Tremor

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Book cover Movement Disorders: A Video Atlas

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

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Abstract

Primary writing tremor is a relatively selective task-specific and unilateral action tremor which occurs nearly exclusively during the act of writing. In most cases, writing is a specific provocative factor, while in others it is provoked by pronation of the forearm and may therefore appear during other tasks in which a similar forearm posture is adopted. Tasks in which tools are used are often affected but much less severely than writing. It appears to be relatively nonprogressive. It has been thought to be either a variant of essential tremor or a variant of writer’s cramp with prominent dystonic tremor. It is an alternating tremor with a usual frequency of 5–7 Hz.

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References

  1. Bain PG, Findley LJ, Britton TC, et al. Primary writing tremor. Brain. 1995;118:1461–72.

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Primary writing tremor.mp4 (MP4 13,149KB)

Examination shows absence of tremor with arms extended or while drinking from a cup. Tremor appears immediately on beginning to write. The brief bursts of tremor which occur during writing are characteristic features of this disorder.

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Bhidayasiri, R., Tarsy, D. (2012). Primary Writing Tremor. In: Movement Disorders: A Video Atlas. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-426-5_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-426-5_29

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-425-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-426-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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