Postural tremors are when your body shakes a little bit while you’re trying to stay still.
Imagine holding a glass of water in one hand and trying not to spill it, that’s kind of like what happens with postural tremors. Your arm might shake a tiny bit, even though you're doing your best to keep it steady.
What Makes the Body Shake
Your body has little helpers called nerve signals that tell your muscles when to move or stay still. Sometimes these helpers get confused and send messages that make your muscles twitch, this is what causes the shaking. It’s like when you’re trying to walk quietly, but your feet keep making small steps without you meaning to.
When Does This Happen?
Postural tremors usually happen when you're holding something or trying to stay still for a while. Think of it like trying to balance on one foot, the longer you try, the more wobbly you might get!
Examples
- A person tries to hold out their arm, but it shakes slightly.
- A child holds a pencil steady, but their hand shakes a little.
- Someone stands up and feels their legs shake when they're still.
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See also
- What are tremor-like movements?
- Why Do People Get 'Brain Freeze' from Ice Cream?
- What are absence or reduction of reflexes?
- What are deep tendon reflexes?
- How does caffeine keep us awake and what are its long-term effects?