Transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation therapy at the wrist for essential tremor relief

Abstract

Transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation (TAPS), also referred to as non-invasive peripheral nerve stimulation, at the wrist provides a promising option for the management of essential tremor. This new wrist-worn neuromodulation method avoids the risks of surgical interventions and can be easily used at home. TAPS therapy is indicated to aid in the temporary relief of hand tremors following stimulation in adults with essential tremor. No serious device-related side effects have been reported. Future studies will be needed to determine the optimal parameters of stimulation. This article introduces a wrist-worn TAPS device and reviews the tremor-reducing mechanism and the clinical effectiveness of TAPS therapy for essential tremor.