The Real Reason Your Legs Are Twitching

Generally, muscles in your body don't move unless the brain has instructed them to do so. However, you might experience involuntary leg twitching from time to time, and, in more severe cases, it can be fairly troubling. But what is it that causes a person's legs to twitch? 

According to Healthline, muscle twitching is usually a result of minor contractions in the body and is sometimes referred to as muscle fasciculation. Because fibres in your muscles are controlled by nerves, damage or stimulation to a nerve could be one reason your legs are twitching independently. 

According to Medical News Today, there are also two basic types of muscle twitching, known as physiologic myoclonus and pathologic myoclonus, both of which often occur in the legs. The first, physiologic myoclonus, can affect anyone regardless of their overall health status, and shouldn't require any treatment. Common symptoms of physiologic myoclonus include leg twitching whilst falling asleep and hiccuping.

The second type of myoclonus-related muscle twitching, known as pathological myoclonus, can be a much more extreme condition and potentially very debilitating (via Baylor Medicine). In some cases, this involves sudden and violent involuntary jerking of certain muscles, including the legs, which may affect a person's overall movement and mobility. In the most serious cases, this form of myoclonus can severely distort a person's movement, including their ability to carry out even the most basic of tasks, such as walking, talking and eating.

However, leg twitching is generally something you shouldn't be too concerned about and can be treated with basic lifestyle changes. More common causes of involuntary leg twitches can be attributed to your body's recovery from physical activity, consuming too much caffeine, dehydration, nicotine found in cigarettes and other tobacco-based products, and nutritional deficiencies relating to vitamin D, vitamin B, and calcium (via Healthline).