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Effects of relaxation and biofeedback training on adults with essential tremor and related disorders

January 1996

Authors:

Duane A Lundervold

University of Central Missouri

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Three adults with essential tremor of hands or arms participated in the following phases: baseline, reclined relaxation, upright relaxation, and dynamic EMG biofeedback. Wrist extensor and flexor EMG, and clinical and self ratings of tremor severity and difficulty were assessed during eating or drinking tasks. Activities of daily living were rated at home. Reductions in EMG and improvements in tremor and difficulty ratings occurred in the training phases, although at different points for different persons. For example, one subject showed improvements in ADL ratings during reclined relaxation, clinical and self ratings during upright relaxation, with further improvement during biofeedback.

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