Why Do I Want to Swing My Leg All the Time?
I am one of those people who are constantly on the move. When I don’t get up, I have an uncontrollable urge to move my legs. They bounce for hours on end, and most of the time I don’t even notice that I’m doing this. When I do this, I sometimes try to stop because it annoys others, but it just makes me feel uncomfortable. I decided to find out what is causing all this annoying bouncing, and if there is a way to stop them.
What can cause bouncing
Many people swing their legs out of habit . This could be due to anxiety, to aid concentration, or even stress. Basically, as therapist Sherrill Hassan explains on Quora , it is often a calming act or the ability to deal with situations where people are anxious and their minds are busy with something else. So if you find yourself fidgeting only on rare occasions, it’s probably just expelling a little nervous energy to help yourself feel better.
However, if this happens to you all the time – as I said, this is what I do almost every time I am stationary – it is more of a mild disorder known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). It is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease. People with RLS experience discomfort in their legs (and sometimes in their arms) when they do not move, especially at night. Fidgeting relieves that discomfort, so as Richard P. Allen, M.D., an expert on restless legs syndrome at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, explains , people with RLS want to keep moving:
“People with this condition feel that they just need to move their legs. Their legs feel uncomfortable or even painful if they do not move them. In extreme cases, patients with this condition may sit – in a meeting, talking, watching TV – and have to constantly move their legs, which can be very disturbing for themselves and others. “
As I sit, my legs bounce like I’m playing drums in a high BPM club; and when I’m in bed, my legs move back and forth, as if I’m trampling water in an ocean of sheets. Most RLS are fairly easy (like mine) and don’t affect many aspects of people’s lives, but for those with extreme cases, it can hurt their chances of ever getting a decent night’s rest.
It is estimated that 7 to 10 percent of Americans have RLS, with RLS being twice as common in women as in men, and there are two main types of the disorder. The first and most common type is early-onset RLS, which begins before age 45 and gets progressively worse over time. RLS later occurs after age 45 and occurs suddenly, but does not worsen over time.
What Happens When You Have RLS
One of the biggest drawbacks of RLS is that it can cause wasting and daytime sleepiness, which, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS), can greatly affect mood, concentration, work and school performance, and personal relationships. … It can also affect your ability to concentrate, remember things, and complete everyday tasks. In fact, NINDS claims that untreated RLS can lead to an approximately 20 percent decrease in productivity, which can also contribute to depression and anxiety.
NINDS suggests that there are many potential causes of the disorder, although it is usually genetically transmitted and there is no cure. For example, I know I got my RLS from my mother and it usually gets worse due to not enough movement (I notice this is not a problem when I exercise more regularly), too much caffeine (I drink too much coffee) and, possibly intermittent iron deficiency. Fortunately, constant worry has some minor benefits, like burning a few extra calories every day .
How to stop bouncing
If you think you have RLS and it is harming your sleep or causing pain rather than just discomfort, you should see your doctor about it. There is no cure, but there are many things that healthcare professionals can do to mitigate the effects of this disorder. But if your RLS is only mildly inconvenient, there are a few simple preventative measures and other tricks you can take to keep it under control. One thing you shouldn’t do, contrary to what you can find on the internet, is to take quinine or drink tonic water (which contains trace amounts of quinine). Quinine is an antimalarial drug that gained new prominence as a potential treatment for COVID-19 earlier this year, but conventional wisdom and some doctors have suggested it may help soothe leg muscle spasms. It turns out that it hasn’t been scientifically proven to help any disease , and long-term use of quinine to combat RLS has been linked to early death . What will help? NINDS suggests some simple lifestyle changes, such as quitting or cutting down on alcohol or tobacco, maintaining regular sleep patterns, and exercising several times a week. You can also try leg stretches, hot or cold baths, massage your feet, use warm or cold compresses on your feet, or even focus your mind on mentally challenging tasks like a crossword puzzle.
Also, try to plan for your uncontrollable urge to fidget, shake, and bounce. Plan car, plane, and movie trips when your symptoms are less severe (usually at the start of the day), take many breaks for walking and stretching, and select aisle seating in theaters, on airplanes, or trains so you can easily get up to move around.
Finally, if you want to catch yourself in the act and try to stop bouncing with your foot , Dr. Raymond Miltenberger recommends putting change or keys in your pocket. As soon as you hear this ringing, cross your legs, place your foot on a chair, or stand up and give the urge to pass.
This story was originally published in December 2017 and has been updated on December 7, 2020 to provide more complete and up-to-date information, including the context in which quinine is used to treat leg cramps.