This week, our group had further discussions about the disability experience we aim to design for our “future selves challenge”, about the specific disability concerning hand tremor.
I contributed to the team by collecting materials needed for prototype, and providing research informations below regarding hand tremors:
The condition characterized by involuntary shaking or trembling of the hands (and sometimes other parts of the body) is commonly referred to as a “tremor.” There are several types of tremors, and they can be associated with different underlying conditions or causes:
- Essential Tremor: This is one of the most common movement disorders and is characterized by shaking of the hands and arms, and occasionally other parts of the body. The cause of essential tremor is unknown, but it can run in families.
- Parkinson’s Disease: This is a neurodegenerative disorder that can lead to a resting tremor, where the hands shake even when they are at rest.
- Intention Tremor: This type of tremor occurs during targeted movement, such as reaching for an object. It can be associated with conditions like multiple sclerosis.
- Physiologic Tremor: This is a fine, mild tremor that occurs in all healthy individuals and is usually not noticeable. It can be exacerbated by factors like fatigue, stress, caffeine, or certain medications.
The symptoms
Essential Tremor:
– Involuntary, rhythmic shaking of the hands and arms, especially while performing actions like eating or writing.
– Tremor may also affect the head, voice, or legs.
– May worsen with stress, fatigue, or consumption of caffeine.
– Typically does not occur at rest.
Parkinson’s Disease Tremor (Resting Tremor):
– Involuntary shaking that usually starts in one hand or finger when it is at rest.
– May also affect the chin, lips, legs, and other parts of the body as the disease progresses.
– Shaking usually decreases when using the affected limb.
– Other symptoms can include slow movement , muscle stiffness, and postural instability.
Intention Tremor:
– Trembling increases as the person tries to reach for an object or perform a task.
– May be associated with coordination issues and difficulty with fine motor tasks.
– Can be a symptom of multiple sclerosis, cerebellar stroke, or other conditions affecting the cerebellum.
Physiologic Tremor:
– Mild, usually imperceptible trembling of the hands or fingers.
– May be exacerbated by stress, caffeine, certain medications, or fatigue.
Our research involves various symptoms of hand tremors. We’ve chosen to highlight symptoms such as random tremors, stiff/ limited movement of joints, and overall numbness and weakness of the hands.
We conducted a prototype of oily gloves with several restraints around the finger joints for limited range/grip, smartwatch alarm for random shakings, and tight rubber/band for numbness. These conditions will enable participants to experience tremor disability.
For our project, participants will be tasked with playing Jenga, typing, and threading. Additionally, we plan to record the time it takes for participants to complete these tasks both before and after simulating the symptoms, to show the potential increase in duration for these activities under the influence of such symptoms.