Tremors & Movement Disorders

Tremors and movement disorders are neurologic conditions that can change the speed, control and coordination of movement. Some cause shaking, while others lead to stiffness, slowness, muscle contractions or trouble with balance and walking. Early evaluation matters because symptoms can worsen over time or overlap with other conditions, including dystonia, ataxia and essential tremor.

You may need specialty care if shaking, stiffness, slowed movement, balance problems or abnormal muscle postures are affecting work, sleep, speech, handwriting or daily tasks. Specialized treatment can help clarify whether symptoms are related to Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, medication side effects or another neurologic disorder.

Common reasons patients seek care include:

• Tremor that interferes with eating, writing or dressing
• Muscle spasms or abnormal postures that may respond to Botox injections
• Worsening gait, falls or coordination problems that need prompt evaluation

Diagnosis begins with a detailed history and neurologic exam, because the pattern of symptoms often provides important clues. Your care team may also use imaging, medication review, functional assessment and specialized testing to understand how the tremor or movement disorder is progressing and which treatments are most likely to help.

Testing may include:

• Brain imaging when needed to rule out other causes of tremor or abnormal movement
• Assessment of gait, balance, speech and fine motor function
• Review of medications and symptom response over time
• Alpha-synuclein skin biopsy to help neurologists diagnose Parkinson’s disease and related synucleinopathies

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, symptom severity and how much daily life is affected. Many patients improve with a combination of medication management, rehabilitation and exercise, while others may benefit from advanced procedures when symptoms remain difficult to control.

Options may include:

• Medication adjustments to improve tremor control, stiffness or slowness of movement
• Rehabilitation, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, to improve mobility and communication
• Botox injections for selected patients with dystonia, spasticity or other focal movement problems
• Deep brain stimulation for certain patients with disabling tremor or Parkinson’s-related symptoms
• High-intensity focused ultrasound, an incisionless option used for carefully selected patients with medication-resistant tremor
• Baptist Health Brain & Spine Care has performed more than 300 high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures across Baptist Health Kenneth C. Griffin Neuroscience Institute and Marcus Neuroscience Institute, reflecting deep experience with this advanced treatment

Without treatment, tremors and movement disorders may become more disruptive and can lead to falls, loss of independence, pain, speech changes or social withdrawal. Risks vary by condition and treatment, so our team discusses the expected benefits and possible side effects of medication, injections and procedures before care begins.

For advanced treatments, risks may include temporary symptom changes, device-related issues with deep brain stimulation (DBS) or treatment-specific side effects that depend on the target area and overall health.

Recovery looks different for every patient because treatment is often ongoing rather than a single event. Some people improve after medication adjustments or Botox injections within days to weeks, while others continue to progress through therapy or after a procedure such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) or high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Follow-up care usually includes symptom monitoring, medication review, therapy recommendations and long-term planning to help maintain movement, safety and quality of life.