The medical phrase is "myoclonic tremor". It is caused by either
an injury or condition that affects the nervous system, literally
the nerves. Myoclonic tremor is often from a spinal injury.
Myoclonic refers to the frequency and quality of the tremor, e.g.
fast, slow, rhythmic, etc. Myoclonic can be further distinguished
as tonic or clonic, which refers to the degree of musle rigidity
that occurs during the myoclonic tremor. Note that the words jerk,
jerks, or jerking are offensive to a person who has tremors.