Isolated vertical head tremor: A diagnostic challenge

Essential tremor (ET) is the most common tremor disorder, typically affecting the upper limbs, while isolated head tremor is uncommon and diagnostically challenging. We report a 56-year-old woman with a more than 30-year history of isolated head tremor without limb or voice involvement. The tremor consisted of vertical ( yes yes ) oscillations, worsened with stress, and was also present at rest. Neurological examination showed no evidence of cervical dystonia. Notably, the patient demonstrated clinical improvement with propranolol. This case supports isolated head tremor as a rare manifestation within the ET spectrum, characterized by long-term stability and therapeutic responsiveness.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
Published
2026-05-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25259/jnrp_68_2026
Primary Topic
Neurological disorders and treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Isolated vertical head tremor: A diagnostic challenge

Daifallah Almalki
Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
Neurological disorders and treatments
article

Isolated vertical head tremor: A diagnostic challenge

Daifallah Almalki
article en

Abstract

Essential tremor (ET) is the most common tremor disorder, typically affecting the upper limbs, while isolated head tremor is uncommon and diagnostically challenging. We report a 56-year-old woman with a more than 30-year history of isolated head tremor without limb or voice involvement. The tremor consisted of vertical ( yes yes ) oscillations, worsened with stress, and was also present at rest. Neurological examination showed no evidence of cervical dystonia. Notably, the patient demonstrated clinical improvement with propranolol. This case supports isolated head tremor as a rare manifestation within the ET spectrum, characterized by long-term stability and therapeutic responsiveness.

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural PracticeVol. 0
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (SA)
Good health and well-being, Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Neurological disorders and treatments
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.