Dystonic posture may occur as part of a neurologic disease or as a reaction to drug treatment or as a result of an injury or trauma. If confined to the muscles of the neck with onset occurring in middle life, it is usually called spasmodic torticollis. Present medical therapy is erratic and of limited clinical value. This sort of tremor differs from the tremor of Parkinson's disease in that it is usually minimal or not present at rest and is increased when the patient moves his hands, especially in writing. The handwriting of a patient with essential tremor is usually large and sloppy as opposed to the micrographic handwriting of a patient with Parkinson's disease.
Essential tremor occuring in families is termed specifically familial tremor.
A tendency to take shorter, quicker steps in walking. Except for very rare mutations, the disease is inherited from an afflicted parent. Abnormal, involuntary movements which appear after patients have been treated for prolonged periods with dopaminergic agents. At early stages of the disorder these can often be alleviated by a reduction in the amount of drug taken. This side effect can be alleviated by a reduction in the amount of drug taken.