Overview. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when you're sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.
Leg shaking can happen for many reasons, ranging from restless legs syndrome (RLS) to serious conditions such as dementia. It can be a subtle annoyance or an intense experience that causes muscle tension and difficulty walking.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)—also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, primary RLS, and idiopathic RLS—is a neurological disorder that causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in your legs and an irresistible urge to move them.
It could be due to boredom, to help concentration, a form of distraction, comfort, coping strategy or simply a habit. It can also be due to a medical condition known as restless legs, in which case it is advisable to speak to the GP. Why does anxiety cause our legs to shake?
There are a variety of reasons as to why you might engage in frequent leg shaking. According to John Winkelman, MD, PhD, the chief of the Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, the most common cause among young people is anxiety.
Hypnic jerks occur during the transition from wakefulness into sleep, happen quickly, and are generally considered harmless. If you only experience hypnic jerks, you probably do not need to see a doctor. However, some symptoms similar to hypnic jerks may require medical attention.
Foot tapping and leg shaking
The urge to move is almost reflexive in those with ADD/ADHD and can be annoying to others. Lead with compassion when you are interacting with someone who is tapping their foot or shaking their legs; they're just trying to regulate chemicals in their brains and make it easier to focus.
Restless legs syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming, irresistible urge to move the legs. It can also cause an unpleasant crawling or creeping sensation in the feet, calves and thighs. The sensation is often worse in the evening or at night.
This body movement is what doctors and scientists call a hypnic (or hypnagogic) or myoclonic jerk. It's also known as a "sleep start," and it can literally startle you out of falling asleep. This type of feeling is normal, and it can happen before people enter the deeper stages of sleep.
Restless legs syndrome can precede, accompany, or follow an escalation of other anxiety sensations and symptoms, or occur by itself. It can precede, accompany, or follow an episode of nervousness, anxiety, fear, and elevated stress, or occur 'out of the blue' and for no apparent reason.
Disadvantages Of Shaking Leg As Per Science
Furthermore, These individuals could also develop heart issues. According to science, moving your legs in this manner can result in a heart attack. In medical science, the condition of constantly moving one's legs is referred to as “Restless Legs Syndrome” (RLS).
Considering these dopaminergic effects of vitamin D, our findings support the hypothesis that decreased vitamin D levels may lead to RLS symptoms.
Two of the most common sleep disorders linked with ADHD are periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). For these reasons, kids with ADHD are more likely to have daytime drowsiness than those without ADHD.
It can also be a symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). People with ADHD are especially likely to shake their legs or perform other repetitive motions while concentrating. However, uncontrollable tremors or tics can also be a symptom of Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
A shaking leg signals a shaky inner state.
"Your legs are the largest area of your body," University of Massachusetts professor Susan Whitbourne says, "so when they move, it's pretty hard for others not to notice." A shaky leg signals anxiety, irritation, or both, she says.
We all use stimming sometimes. For example, some children suck their thumbs or twirl their hair for comfort, and others jiggle their legs while they're working on a difficult problem or task. You might pace up and down if you're anxious, or fiddle with a pen in a boring meeting.
When you're feeling anxious, your muscles may become tenser, since anxiety primes your body to react to an environmental “danger.” Your muscles may also twitch, shake, or tremble. Tremors that are caused by anxiety are known as psychogenic tremors.
Shaking is a symptom of anxiety and nervousness that is supposed to signal danger, and also be the result of adrenaline preparing your muscles to fight or flee. It is difficult to stop shaking at the moment, but there are anxiety reduction techniques that can ease the mind and body so shaking is less disruptive.
Stress and anxiety
The increased cortisol levels mean a higher heart rate and a compensatory need to move or “let it out.” That's because movement increases blood flow and can release tension that is being stored in muscles, making tapping a good coping mechanism.
At a time when livelihood relied on physical labour, idling meant losing valuable time and avoiding work. And thus the saying: "shaking your legs shakes away your wealth and fortune". This belief has since then passed down generations and has been modified to "shaking legs is an act of sin".