Leg tremors in the elderly—uncontrollable shaking or trembling in the legs—are often caused by neurological disorders, medication side effects, or conditions like Parkinson’s disease. While not life-threatening, these tremors can disrupt daily life and indicate underlying health issues. This guide covers causes, diagnosis, treatments, and actionable steps to help seniors and caregivers manage leg tremors effectively.
What are The Tremors in Elderly
Leg tremors are involuntary muscle contractions causing rhythmic shaking in one or both legs. They’re common in seniors due to age related neurological changes, chronic conditions, or medication use. While often harmless, persistent tremors may signal:
- Neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, or traumatic brain injury, affect brain parts that control muscles throughout the body.
- Neurodegenerative diseases damage or destroy parts of the brainstem.
- Alcohol or drug abuse.
- Medication side effects.
- Parkinson’s disease
Types of tremors in the elderly
Various types of tremors do not affect only the legs but can also affect other parts of the body. Regarding daily tasks, vibration are embarrassing and challenging, even though they aren’t life-threatening. In addition, it’s often difficult to distinguish between types of tremors because there are many types.
Essential tremors
If you have Parkinsonian tremors, you may find a common symptom: shaky hands and feet. This isn’t a voluntary movement — it’s a tremor. About 80% of people with Parkinson’s have them. While tremors can be annoying, they aren’t disabling. Leg shaking can also be caused by health issues such as multiple sclerosis or essential tremors. The body parts affected are the hands, feet, jaw, and tongue. There are some differences between Parkinson’s tremors and other kinds of vibration, however, including:
-
Resting. Parkinson’s tremors happen when your muscles are still. They go away when you move. They also subside while you sleep. For example, sitting in a chair with relaxed arms, you may notice that your fingers twitch. But if you’re using your hand, the tremor eases or stops when you shake someone else’s hand.
-
Rhythmic. Parkinson’s tremors are slow and continuous. They aren’t random tics, jerks, or spasms.
-
Asymmetric. They tend to start on one side of your body. But they can spread to both sides of the body.
Parkinsonian tremors
They are also known as intention tremors. They occur due to stroke, damage to the cerebellum, or alcohol abuse. Cerebellar tremors can affect any part of the body. A classic cerebellar tremor is an intentional tremor, most prominent during coordinated movements, such as pushing a button. The earthquake will be the most pronounced when the finger is about to meet its target. Cerebellar tremor results from damage to the cerebellum or its pathways in the brain stem.
Dystonic tremors
Dystonia is a movement disorder in which muscles contract involuntarily, causing abnormal postures that may be painful. An attempt to correct eccentric muscle contractions that repeatedly fail may lead to tremors. In addition, specific movements or body holding may worsen dystonic tremor2. However, it may improve with rest or by touching a part of the body (typically, but not always, the region affected by dystonia).
Orthostatic tremors
Orthostatic tremors make the legs and trunk tremble after standing up. A person with orthostatic tremors may not notice a tremor as much as unsteadiness after standing up. The feeling gets better as soon as someone sits down. You can take clonazepam or primidone for treatment.
Psychogenic tremors
Psychogenic tremor is an exclusion diagnosis, which means other forms of tremor must be ruled out. Tremors caused by psychological factors are also known as functional tremors. Suppose a tremor disappears when you’re distracted, if it suddenly appears after a stressful incident, or if it frequently changes for no apparent reason; it may be psychological. In addition to psychogenic tremor, conversion disorder or psychiatric illness can help diagnose it.
Physiologic tremors
Most individuals visually experience them. They occur due to fatigue, emotional outburst, anger, or withdrawal symptom. Physiological tremors are typical, but they’re usually not noticeable. Holding your hand with extended fingers might have made you notice this tremor. Some things might make a tremor more noticeable (thus making it an “enhanced physiological tremor” ): anxiety, fatigue, caffeine, fever, alcohol withdrawal, low blood sugar, some medications, etc. It goes away when you fix the underlying cause of enhanced physiological tremor.
Causes of leg tremors in the elderly
People can get shaky because of various medical conditions, prescription drugs, and other consumption. In many cases, shaking hands is caused by a benign, temporary condition that’s easy to fix. However, sometimes, shaky hands in the elderly indicate an underlying health problem. Here are some various causes of leg tremors in the elderly.
- Diseases affecting the central nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease
- Several medications, like lithium, anti-seizure, and antidepressants.
- Overactive thyroid, where the body’s metabolic rate is abnormally high, leading to excessive energy production in every cell
- Leg tremors can pass on from one generation to another.
- Problem with the thyroid gland.
Another cause for tremors is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease. It is a condition characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs. This urge is typically caused by an uncomfortable sensation in the legs, and it often occurs in the evening or at night when sitting or lying down. While moving the legs provides temporary relief from the discomfort, it is only a short-term solution.
RLS can begin at any age, but its symptoms tend to worsen as individuals grow older. The disruption of sleep caused by RLS can interfere with daily activities and overall quality of life. This condition can significantly impact an individual’s well-being and productivity.
You can get more information about leg tremors in this article from the Mayo Clinic.
Diagnosing leg tremors
Diagnosing the underlying cause of leg tremors involves a comprehensive medical evaluation. Your healthcare provider may perform various tests and assessments to determine the cause, including:
1. Medical history: Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and any medications you are taking. It is important to provide detailed information to aid in diagnosis.
2. Physical examination: A physical examination may involve assessing your muscle strength, reflexes, coordination, and balance. This can help identify any abnormalities or signs of neurological conditions.
3. Blood tests: Blood tests may be conducted to rule out any underlying medical conditions or to check for specific markers related to neurological disorders.
4. Imaging tests: Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, may be ordered to visualize the brain and spine. These tests can help identify any structural abnormalities or signs of neurological conditions.
Treatment options for leg tremors
The treatment options for leg tremors depend on the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, and individual factors. Some common treatment options include:
1. Lifestyle changes to manage leg tremors: Making certain lifestyle changes can help manage leg tremors. These may include reducing stress levels, avoiding triggers like caffeine or alcohol, and getting regular exercise to improve muscle strength and flexibility.
2. Medications for leg tremors: Medications may be prescribed to manage leg tremors, especially if they are caused by underlying neurological conditions. These medications aim to regulate brain activity and reduce tremors. Commonly prescribed medications include beta-blockers, antiseizure medications, and botulinum toxin injections.
3. Physical therapy and other non-medical treatments for leg tremors: Physical therapy can help improve muscle control, coordination, and balance, reducing the severity of leg tremors. Other non-medical treatments, such as deep brain stimulation or focused ultrasound therapy, may be recommended for severe cases.
Risk factors for leg tremors
Factors that do not cause tremors but worsen the existing condition. Shaking legs can be uncomfortable and make you worry that something is wrong. There are a lot of cases where the underlying condition isn’t severe. However, if other symptoms accompany leg shaking, it could signify something serious. You can make the problem worse by delaying treatment. Getting prompt medical care can help alleviate shaking legs, even though it’s not a medical emergency. Here are some factors that may make things worse.
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Cigarette smoking
How to Stop Leg Tremors in The Elderly
Suffering from leg tremors is not a pleasant experience. And can make life miserable for our elderly parents, from diseases of the central nervous system to anxiety and stress. Many factors cause the onset of leg tremors. However, there are natural remedies where you can try to put leg tremors to rest.
Herbal teas
These act as very good relaxants and relieve anxiety. Some types of herbal teas are lavender, chamomile, and thyme. Consuming this tea regularly brings down stress levels. And ultimately helps in keeping the tremors under control.
Say goodbye to coffee
Coffee and caffeinated beverages can trigger leg tremors. It is, therefore, necessary to avoid all kinds of drinks and desserts containing coffee. Limiting or preventing caffeine-containing drinks and products may reduce the severity of leg tremors. In the same way, we need nutrients. We need water. You can stop tremors by drinking three liters of water daily since water reduces physical and emotional stress and stimulates the body.
Avoid smoking
Smoking tobacco can worsen the existing condition of leg tremors. It is, therefore, necessary to convince your elderly parents to stop smoking if they are in the habit of it. Excessive smoking can lead to a smoker’s leg. This circulatory disease has a narrowing of blood vessels and blood flow restriction to the lower limbs. People with a smoker’s leg may feel pain or cramps when walking because of reduced blood flow.
Avoid over-the-counter medications
Certain over-the-counter medications are meant for allergies, depression, and asthma. Unfortunately, it can worsen leg tremors. Always consult a doctor before offering any medicine to your elderly loved ones.
Follow a healthy diet
A diet rich in vitamins, low in refined sugars, and simple carbohydrates can help tremors. B vitamins are essentially known to treat neurological conditions. This is the basis for the onset of leg tremors. In addition, practice yoga and other stress-relieving techniques. Yoga is a powerful stress buster. And practicing it can do wonders in decreasing anxiety and stress levels.
Practice yoga and other stress-relieving techniques.
Yoga and other stress-relieving techniques can significantly reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Yoga can help you become more mindful of your body, making you more aware of physical tension and slowly release it. Stress-relieving techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery can also help reduce stress and anxiety. Taking time to focus on your mental and physical health is essential to self-care and can benefit your overall well-being.
Treatment of tremor
Doctors will map out an appropriate treatment plan based on the diagnosis. Medications are often the first line of treatment for leg tremors. In addition, some elderly patients may also benefit from occupational and physical therapy. Therapy will help reduce the incidence of tremor. They improve muscle strength, muscle coordination as well as muscle control. Depending on the nature and type of leg tremor, the therapist will decide on the specific type of therapy. Surgery is often the last resort. And they opted for when medications and treatments do not have any positive effect. Surgical procedures include deep brain stimulation and thalamotomy. They have a very positive outcome in most severe cases.
Conclusion
Living with tremors can be difficult. And can drastically affect the quality of life of our senior parents. However, recognizing the symptoms and addressing the problem will help the treatment. Check with your local care provider for medical advice for restless legs and question your health care provider if you feel there is nerve damage. Legs syndrome can be treated with treatment and several coping strategies. We can expect a positive outcome.
For more information, check out this site. Also, check out some of my latest posts to help with ambulation or another article on comptression stockings.
