Exercises For Injuries

7 Orthostatic Tremor Exercise for Shaky Legs Syndrome

shakey leg syndrome - Orthostatic Tremor Exercise

A Practical Guide to Managing Primary and Secondary Orthostatic Tremor Through Targeted Movement

Orthostatic Tremor (OT), also known as shaky legs syndrome [2], is a rare condition that causes rapid, rhythmic, and involuntary muscle contractions in the legs when standing still. This leads to unsteadiness and balance issues that can severely affect a person’s everyday activities, eventually contributing to social isolation, stress, and anxiety.

Fortunately, a consistent orthostatic tremor exercise routine can be beneficial in helping individuals cope with symptoms, improve leg muscle strength, and significantly support mobility.

These low-impact exercises are designed to target leg strength, flexibility, and also balance. They are particularly useful for those experiencing primary or secondary orthostatic tremor.

1. Ankle Circles

Goal: Improve ankle flexibility and circulation.

2. Hip Marching

Goal: Strengthen the hip flexors and also thighs.

3. Knee Extensions

Goal: Improve knee strength and range of motion.

4. Calf Raises

Goal: Strengthen the calves and also promote blood flow.

5. Standing Knee Flexion

Goal: Build hamstring strength and improve standing balance.

6. Side Hip Raise

Goal: strengthen hip abductors for better lateral movement.

7. Sit to Stand

Goal: Strengthen hips and improve standing function.

Bonus Activities:

What Defines Orthostatic Tremors?

According to Dr. Anhar Hassan MB, BCh, FAAN (Movement Disorder Specialist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN): “Orthostatic tremor is characterized by a high-frequency tremor of around  13–20 Hz that occurs when bearing weight or standing … As the disease progresses, symptoms begin almost immediately upon standing, and patients need to sit, lean, or walk to alleviate them.”

She also notes that deep-brain stimulation has shown modest benefit in extending standing time and reducing tremor severity in severe cases. 

There are two main classifications:

These tremors are believed to result from abnormal network connectivity in the brain, involving areas like the cerebellum, for example. Studies using resting-state functional MRI have supported these findings additionally.

What Are the Causes of Leg Tremors?

Though OT is considered a rare condition, the underlying cause remains largely idiopathic (unknown). However, research suggests several potential contributors:

Diagnosis

Diagnosis requires a combination of clinical observation and imaging.One primary tool is:

Surface Electromyography (sEMG)

A non-invasive test that measures the electrical activity of muscles during rest and motion. It helps analyze:

The results can confirm whether the tremor fits the OT pattern or aligns with other types of movement disorder.

Treatment & Coping Skills

There is currently no known cure for orthostatic tremor, but a combination of physical therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and coping skills can help patients manage their condition.

Medications:

Supportive Strategies:

Takeaway

Orthostatic tremor [1] does not necessarily worsen over time, but untreated symptoms can become severe, affecting quality of life. Early diagnosis and intervention—especially through consistent orthostatic tremor exercise routines—can make a meaningful difference.

Understanding your symptoms, maintaining balance, and basically adopting a personalized plan of exercise and care offer the best chance to cope with this condition effectively.

Check out the Top 10 Morning Movements To Loosen Up Your Joints! Instantly loosen up tight joints and ease sore muscles… So you can wake up and get moving, pain free!

FAQ’s

What is orthostatic tremor exercise, and how does it help?

Orthostatic tremor exercise refers to targeted leg and balance routines—like ankle circles, calf raises, hip marching, and Tai Chi—that help strengthen the leg muscles, improve balance in the standing position, and reduce the frequency and severity of tremors. These routines support physical therapy goals and help patients cope with the rare condition unquestionably.

 What defines orthostatic tremor and distinguishes primary from secondary?

It’s defined by a high-frequency (13-20 Hz) synchronous tremor of leg muscles when standing, with symptoms vanishing during walking or sitting.

Primary orthostatic tremor is idiopathic, with no associated neurological conditions.

Secondary orthostatic tremor coexists with other neurological disorders identically like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or cerebellar pathology .

What are the main causes of leg tremors in orthostatic tremor?

The exact cause remains unknown. Nonetheless, researchers explore links to abnormal network connectivity in the cerebellum and brainstem, and possible genetic or mitochondrial factors. Some patients exhibit cognitive and neuropsychiatric features, especially in secondary cases .

Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements


1. Heilman, K. M. (1984). Orthostatic Tremor. Archives of Neurology, 41(8), 880–881. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1984.04050190086020 

2. Benito-León, J., & Porta-Etessam, J. (2000). Shaky-Leg Syndrome and Vitamin B12Deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 342(13), 981–981. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm200003303421318

3. Swinnen, B. E. K. S., de Waal, H., Buijink, A. W. G., de Bie, R. M. A., & van Rootselaar, A. (2022). The Phenomenology of Primary Orthostatic Tremor. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 9(4), 489–493. https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.13454

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