Assistive Devices, Therapies & Techniques

Studies found that the use of a cooling mat on the forearm of persons with action tremors, reduced tremors. Applying peripheral cooling might enable persons with essential tremor to perform functional activities more efficiently. Read about this approach as written by Lisa Warren, MHS, OTR/L in our June 2019 Tremor Talk magazine (page 4).

The Cala kIQ™ System with TAPS (Transcutaneous Afferent Patterned Stimulation) therapy is an FDA-cleared, wearable device that delivers effective therapy for action hand tremor relief in people with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. It senses each patient’s unique tremor signature and individualizes stimulation. Cala kIQ requires a prescription from a medical doctor. Learn more on the Cala website.

This is a handheld therapeutic device for hand tremor reduction. (PLEASE NOTE: IT IS CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES). Daily use of VILIM ball gives essential tremor patients a relief from the symptoms for the time they need to perform ordinary-life tasks, such as eating, drinking, writing, using electronic devices, etc. Learn more here.

The Steadi-Two is a device that uses two magnets to control a disk that moves in the opposite direction of your tremor. It is battery-free and can be used interchangeably, on both the left and right hand with no adjustments needed. Studies show it provides an 80% reduction of tremor amplitude. Learn more on the Steadiwear website.

The Readi-Steadi® Anti-Tremor Orthotic Glove System is a fully customized, hand orthotic invented and developed by an occupational therapist for the management of mild to severe hand and arm tremors. It is COVERED BY MOST INSURANCES including Medicare and VA with both on-line option and fittings in the Baton Rouge, LA clinic. Call 225-614-2631 or visit www.Readi-Steadi.com if you or a loved one is interested in this conservative tool with no side effects and 50% effectiveness.

Tremelo is a wearable device worn at the wrist to assist people with essential tremor to perform daily tasks with steady hands. It uses Tuned Mass Damper technology to mechanically stabilize the arm with no electrical components and no nerve stimulation. You can safely use Tremelo for daily activities that involve your hands, such as to eating, drinking, and handling tools. It is an FDA Class 1 device. Order now at fivemicrons.com/order.

Liftware Steady is a stabilizing handle and a selection of attachments designed to help people with hand tremor eat more easily. It automatically stabilizes so the attached utensil shakes 70% less than your hand. Liftware works best with mild to moderate tremor.

To get started with Liftware, order the Liftware starter kit, which includes the stabilizing handle and a soup spoon attachment. Additional attachments are sold separately. Order online on the Liftware website.

Liftware Donation Program
If you have essential tremor but cannot afford Liftware, you can apply to receive a free, refurbished, starter kit donated by Liftware. Please complete this application to be considered. (You must be a resident of the U.S. to apply). The IETF does not pay for Liftware nor does it solicit donations to pay for devices; we simply coordinate with Liftware in distributing donated devices to individuals diagnosed with ET who demonstrate financial need.

ELISpoon uses stabilizing technology to enable independent eating for people with limited hand and arm mobility such as essential tremor. The design allows you to interchange multiple attachments and use ELISpoon as a tea spoon or a soup spoon suitable for both children and adults. There are no electrical components; it uses no battery and no charger. It is dishwasher safe and FDA approved.

After 18 months of development, the S’up Spoon was originally designed for Grant Douglas, a man affected by cerebral palsy. Now this product is available to everyone who struggles with eating due to an unsteady hand. Unlike a normal spoon which requires your upper lip/teeth to pull content off the utensil, this simple spoon only requires you to tip the food into your mouth. Learn more about this product, and watch a video on it’s creation and use on their website.

This special tableware is made for people with fine motor needs or cognitive issues. Its anti-tip design, specially curved spoon, slanted bottoms and deep chambers, plus bright colors, are special features that provide stability and support. Each piece in the Eatwell assistive tableware set is equipped with anti-slip material that is microwave and dishwasher safe, all of which helps to prevent spills and dropped foods and reduce or lighten caregiving requirements during meals.

This device raises ordinary dinner plates several inches above the table surface, reducing the distance from plate to mouth. It enables people to eat independently, with ease, and with dignity. It fits a 9-inch dinner plate easily. Learn more on the Meal Lifter website.

This jar opener makes opening jars effortless. It fits small to large jars. The press of a button activates its powerful twisting action, tightening around the lid and loosening it. Available to order online.

These snug fitting gloves can be lifesavers in the kitchen if you have shaky hands. They are cut-resistant, ultra thin and elastic so they stretch. And they are machine washable. While they are great in the kitchen, they also are great for carpentry, fishing and hobbies like woodcarving. They are available in 5 sizes from XS to XL. Available online.

Scooper Bowl is specially designed for seniors and people with disabilities. Its suction cup base helps prevent splashing and spilling. It’s made with heat resistant molded plastic and is dishwasher safe. Offered by Maddak Ableware.

KEatlery utensils are weighted high quality 18/8 stainless steel utensils. Dining with KEatlery utensils, as with other weighted utensils, will lessen your hand tremors, allowing you to eat more successfully and with greater skill. And, they have the appearance of good quality flatware.

The handles of these adaptive utensils are solid which gives them their extra heavy weight. Each utensil weighs approximately 8 ounces. A slight indentation on the handles places your fingers in a comfortable ergonomic position. The soup spoon has a recessed edge and a slightly deeper bowl to assist in preventing spills. These utensils are dishwasher safe. More details.

The Rocker Knife with T-handle is an easy-to-use adaptive knife that cuts food with a rocking motion. The 4 1/2 inch stainless steel single-edge curved blade easily cuts through food and can be sharpened like any other kitchen knife. The knife is easy to use – simply apply gentle pressure to the handle with your whole hand then simply rock back and forth. Available with a wood or plastic handle. Order yours from CaregiverProducts.com.

The 6 oz. (170g) of added weight in the built-up handle of this product provides more control so that the utensil reaches the mouth easier. Good Grips® are ideal for persons with limited hand control and tremor.  The sample kit includes a teaspoon, tablespoon, soup spoon, fork and rocker knife. Visit the North Coast Medical Inc. website for more information.

The lightweight design works with all forks and spoons, even plastic. SteadyRest goes on easily with a velcro strap which has two snaps that adjust to accommodate any sized hand. SteadyRest can also be used with pens and pencils.  By adjusting the position of the device on the hand, users can write smoothly and with control.  Recommended for light to moderate tremors. See more at www.steadyrest.org.

Magnetic button adaptors are specially designed to convert your shirt buttons into magnetic closures. This simple, patent pending solution helps overcome dexterity limitations and takes the hassle out of buttoning. Regain the ability to dress and undress independently. It takes only a few minutes (but does require fine motor skills to install.) Each set contains 10 adaptors. Learn more online.

MagnaReady offers classic dress shirts with magnetically-infused buttons, making it easy for anyone with limited motor skills to dress independently. MagnaReady’s hand-sewn shirts are 100% cotton, stain-resistant and wrinkle-free. They are available in men’s sizes S-XXL and offered in white, blue or plaid for $59.99 each.  For women, the company sells a classic tailored striped Oxford crafted from cotton. Styling includes a tapered look, forward-point collar with white collar, cuffs, and placket, plus single-button barrel cuffs with signature darts.  Boys and girls outerwear is also available via the MagnaMini website. Learn more at www.magnaready.com. 

Never have to go through the struggle of tying your shoes again with Hickies. These straps take the place of laces in your shoes and once they are snapped into place they allow for ease in slipping your shoes on and off. They come in a variety of colors and are made from durable thermoplastic elastomer so they stretch. Learn more at their website.

Buck & Buck has been providing clothing solutions for more than 33 years. What began in Seattle as an adaptive clothing service for nursing facilities in the late 70s, has grown to become the national leader in the design and manufacture of specialized clothing. Clothing designed with snap closures, VELCRO® Brand closures and zippers help make getting dressed easier. Visit their store.

Weighted Blankets may improve sleep. A 2015 study conducted by Gaby Badre, a sleep specialist and neurophysiologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, studied the impact of weighted blankets. Electrodes measured participants’ brain and muscle activity. The participants moved around less in their sleep, and they experienced fewer bursts of brain activity called sleep spindles. Most of the participants reported that they slept better. And many people with essential tremor have recommended them as well. Mosaic Weighted Blankets is one site that carries a variety of styles

The Weighted Button Aid features a heavy, vinyl grip handle with contoured finger grips. People with tremor will find the added weight in the handle helps to stabilize their hand. The stainless steel wire loop button hook securely and easily pulls a button through the clothing eyelet. The Weighted Button Aid weighs about 8 oz and measures 7-1/2 inches long. Available from CaregiverProducts.com.

The CARE Medical History Bracelet, an easy-to-use electronic medical bracelet. Created by GC Publishers, this device can be loaded and viewed from any computer, MAC or PC. Learn more.

No more struggling with keys! Instalock converts your existing home door dead bolt into a remote controlled door in seconds, with no tools for installation. It attaches over your door lock on the inside of your door allowing you to press a remote button from up to 80 feet. Click here for more information.

This iPad app is a customizable keyboard and adaptive notepad with word prediction and text-to-speech features. It enables the user to quickly and easily create customized keyboard layouts including the ability to assign each key a designated letter, word, sentence or picture; merge cells together to form larger keys; create audio recordings and convert text-to-speech with words highlighted as they are spoken. Learn more online.

Dexteria is a set of therapeutic hand exercises (not games) to improve fine motor skills and handwriting readiness in children and adults. Dexteria’s unique hand and finger activities take full advantage of the multi-touch interface to help build strength, control, and dexterity. It is available at iTunes.

The BIG Launcher replaces the user interface of any phone or tablet with Android 2.1 or higher. It provides maximum readability via enlarged icons and large buttons that are easy to use and customize. Set up an unlimited number of screens with apps, contacts, shortcuts or widgets. Swipe between them or use the buttons to group related functions. Learn more online.

Nuance’s Dragon Mobile Assistant is a virtual assistant for Android that can perform a wide variety of functions including conversion of speech to text and text to speech commands, dialing to texting, launching music, share location, find directions and more. The “always on” assistant can dial into scheduled conference calls, compose email and read calendar alerts, Facebook Newsfeed updates and text messages. Download it online.

RollerMouse works well in compact spaces and offers different styles for users with small to large hands. RollerMouse products provide palm support and allow you to maneuver your PC or Mac cursor with just your fingers, eliminating the need for you to hold your hand against gravity. RollerMouse is ideal for use with mountable keyboard trays. Check out all the different options at their store.

This software is designed to assist people with hand tremor. Major Features: Anti-tremor mouse filtering. Removal of accidental mouse clicks. Assistive “Icon Targeting” system. Quick enable/disable using the scroll lock key. Simple design for easy configuration. Visit the SteadyMouse website for more information.

The VisionBoard 2 offers a big advantage to people who find it painful or difficult to use a traditional keyboard by improving readability and reducing eyestrain with big 1-in/2.54-cm square keys and large, bold black-on-white letters and numbers. Check it out online.

BigKeys keyboards for computer access provide users large, high-visibility keys that are easy to see. In addition, for users who lack fine motor movements, the larger keys provide a larger strike area that is easier to access compared to standard keyboards. Check it out online.

The first ergonomic grip for mobile devices. Digit Grip allows the user to put any mobile device into the palm of their hand and aids in holding on to devices such as plus size phones and tablets. It makes larger devices feel more manageable. The Digit Grip is universally fit and great for surfing, texting, reading, playing games, flying drones, video chatting and selfies. Visit their website to learn more.

These Weighted Universal Holders help individuals hold pens, pencils and other round or irregular shaped objects. The heavy weight of the holder allows the user to write, draw, paint or brush their teeth independently. When using the holder for writing, it requires very little pressure if held in an upright position.

Holder easily slips onto pens, pencils, markers, paintbrushes and more. The weighted grip has a variable diameter that can be adjusted from 1/8″ to 7/16″. Weighted universal pen and pencil holder comes with an Allen wrench for adjustment. Order yours online.

Along with new enhancements like a pocket clip, retractable cap, easier refilling and more streamlined ergonomics, the new Ergo-Sof PenAgain® is also finished with a soft rubber coating that adds extra comfort and style to the tension-free “No Grip” design. All Ergo-Sof pens come with two additional black refills. Visit PenAgain.com to choose your favorite color.

The Steady Write Pen is helpful for those who have ET,  Parkinson’s, arthritis or limited use of hands. Permanently attached base stabilizes hand at a special angle to smooth out shaky or poor handwriting. Grip with fingers held between knuckles or grasp like an ordinary pen.

By Kelvin Chou, MD, Susan Grube, RN, MSN, and Parag Patil, MD, PhD
Everything you need to know about deep brain stimulation. From the first consideration to long-term care, this is an invaluable resource that patients, their families, and their physicians will want at their fingertips. Order here.

By Sandy Kamen Wisniewski
Sandy, who was diagnosed with ET at the age of 14, wrote a personal essay entitled “I Couldn’t Stop Shaking” for Woman’s Day magazine in 2001. Now, she shares her story of living with ET – and the stories of others – in her book. Also included within this book is a medical chapter written by Peter A. LeWitt, MD, a movement disorder neurologist. Buy it on Amazon.

By Drs. Mark Plumb and Peter Bain
Provides a comprehensive guide to understanding ET and minimizing its impact. It begins with a close look at what ET is and how it is diagnosed. It also details who gets the disorder, the causes and how it affects day to day lives, current treatment options, along with patient advice on how to cope with the stigma of ET. The book concludes with a chapter on the prospects of a potential cure. Dr. Mark Plumb is a geneticist who has had ET since childhood. Dr Peter Bain is an international authority on tremor, movement disorders and deep brain stimulation. Get it on Amazon.

By Jane Baker Conner
A rare neurological movement disorder, Orthostatic Tremor continues to baffle medical science. The author shares her experiences in order to: 1) help identify orthostatic tremor symptoms, 2) explain the alternative of deep brain stimulation, 3) describe practical ways to manage the unique challenges of OT, 4) teach how to cope with an HMO’s process of securing outside referral, and 5) offer hope for living with a disorder that currently has no cure. Available in paperback and Kindle. Get it on Amazon.

Co-Editors: Dr. Claudia Testa and Dr. Deitrich Haubenberger

Much has happened in the field of tremors in the past 10+ years and a 2022 book, “Tremors” brings it all together. It shares recent developments in understanding tremor pathology and genetics, as well as the clinical findings in treatment models.

Tremors will prove to be a useful text for practicing clinicians, students and researchers focusing on movement disorders, and those living with tremor who want to learn more about their condition.