Effect of cigarette smoking on postural muscle tremor.

In a study of the effect of smoking on postural reflexes--specifically postural muscle tremor--in man, amplitude of postural muscle tremor, when tested in 30 subjects, was increased to a significant degree immediately following the smoking of one cigarette. Tremor amplitude continued to be significantly increased one-half hour after smoking ceased. There was no significant change in the frequency of tremor. Measurement was made using a piezo crystal accelerometer attached to the third fingers of both hands. Effects were recorded with a Sanborn Twin Viso Recorder. The findings, that smoking does affect postural reflexes, have implications for the formulation of nursing therapies, particularly in areas such as rehabilitation nursing, where the use of postural reflexes is the primary mode of intervention.