Pill Rolling Tremor is a medical term used to describe a specific type of tremor commonly seen in Parkinson's disease. It is identified by a repetitive movement of the fingers and thumbs, as if rolling a small pill between them. The phonetic transcription of "Pill Rolling Tremor" is /pɪl ˈrəʊlɪŋ ˈtrɛmə/. The word "pill" is pronounced with a short i sound, and "rolling" is pronounced with a long o sound. The stress is placed on the second syllable of both "rolling" and "tremor."
Pill rolling tremor is a neurological condition characterized by a specific type of tremor, named due to the similarity it bears to the repetitive motion of rolling a small object, such as a pill, between the thumb and the forefinger. This tremor is typically associated with Parkinson's disease, a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system. It is one of the cardinal signs of Parkinsonism and commonly occurs in the early stages of the disease.
The pill rolling tremor is experienced as a rhythmic, slow, and involuntary shaking movement that primarily affects the hands, often starting in one hand and eventually spreading to the other. It is most noticeable at rest, becoming less prominent or disappearing during voluntary movement or sleep. The tremor usually manifests at a frequency of 3-5 cycles per second, giving it a characteristic "pill rolling" appearance.
This particular tremor is caused by the dysfunction of the basal ganglia, a region of the brain responsible for controlling movement and posture. The exact mechanism of its occurrence is not completely understood, but it is thought to be related to an imbalance of neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and acetylcholine.
Although pill rolling tremor is commonly associated with Parkinson's disease, it can also be observed in other parkinsonian syndromes and certain medication side effects. Proper diagnosis and evaluation by a medical professional are essential to determine the underlying cause and to provide appropriate treatment and management strategies for this condition.