Orange Park Neurosurgeon Treats Essential Tremors with Focused Ultrasound

The non-invasive procedure has helped over 100 patients at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:37pm

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image of a human brain, with the thalamus region glowing brightly, conceptually representing the precision of the focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremors.A non-invasive ultrasound procedure targets the thalamus region of the brain to treat essential tremors.Orange Park Today

For more than two years, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital has been treating patients dealing with essential tremors, a common movement disorder, using a non-invasive focused ultrasound procedure. The treatment targets the thalamus region of the brain to reduce or eliminate tremors in the arms. Dr. Michael Horowitz, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, explains the process and how he tests patients before and after the procedure to ensure the best results.

Why it matters

Essential tremors are the most common movement disorder, causing involuntary shaking that can significantly impact a person's daily activities. This focused ultrasound treatment provides a non-invasive option to reduce or eliminate these debilitating tremors without the risks of traditional surgical procedures.

The details

The focused ultrasound procedure involves using ultrasonic energy to target and heat up the thalamus region of the brain, which controls movement. Patients are awake during the 90-minute procedure and undergo various tests, such as drinking from a water bottle or moving a spoon to their mouth, to assess their tremor improvement in real-time. If successful, the treatment can significantly reduce or eliminate tremors in the targeted arm, allowing patients to regain control of their movements.

  • HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital has been offering the focused ultrasound treatment for over 2 years.
  • The FDA has approved the procedure to be done on one arm at a time, with a 9-month window between treatments for the other arm.

The players

Dr. Michael Horowitz

A neurosurgeon at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital who performs the focused ultrasound procedure to treat patients with essential tremors.

Robert Schlag

A patient who underwent the focused ultrasound treatment at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital and had his essential tremors eliminated.

Aubrey Smith

A patient who underwent the focused ultrasound treatment at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital and had her essential tremors eliminated.

HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital

A hospital that has been offering the focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremors for over 2 years, having treated more than 100 patients.

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What they’re saying

“I told everybody I know about this who has tremors, about this procedure. So I would definitely spread the word. I love it.”

— Robert Schlag, Patient

“I can do more things with both hands, like working with small items. I like working with wood.”

— Aubrey Smith, Patient

What’s next

The FDA has approved the focused ultrasound procedure to be done on one arm at a time, with a 9-month window between treatments for the other arm. This allows patients time to recover and decide if they want the procedure done on their other arm.

The takeaway

This non-invasive focused ultrasound treatment provides a promising solution for those suffering from essential tremors, a common and debilitating movement disorder. By targeting the thalamus region of the brain, the procedure can significantly reduce or eliminate tremors, helping patients regain control of their daily activities.