Some people’s hands shake so much that it is hard for them to feed themselves, but a new wristband can help improve that for them.
Essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders, according to a recent study. About 7 million people in the U.S. – mostly elderly – have arms that shake uncontrollably to the point that it impairs their ability to perform common daily activities, such as feeding themselves or getting dressed. And this has a negative impact on their quality of life. There are some drugs that can help, but a new approach uses mild electrical stimulation to help reduce the tremors. When the current is applied to the nerves in the wrist, it seems to interrupt the brain patterns that cause the shaking. Patients who have used a wrist-worn device to control tremors as needed report that they saw significant improvements. Three out of four were better able to feed themselves, and two-thirds said that they have an improved quality of life overall.