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Random muscle twitches linked to stress, fatigue and diet, physical therapy expert says
They come without invitation and leave without fanfare. Seemingly random, painless muscle twitches and spasms are something weve probably all experienced at some point in our lives. But how many of us have paid them any real attention?
Bodily quirks are a dime a dozen, and peering beneath the surface can pay dividends& sort of. Like, how much do you know about the bone tentacles that make up your alien soul patch ? Thats what I thought. The Focus reached out to Dr Eva Lassey, a physical therapist who specializes in motor and sensory disorders, to understand more about why our bodies do the things we do. She said that, while muscle twitches can be annoying, they are usually harmless. Usually!?
Involuntary muscle movements are a common phenomenon and they have a name
Personally, I had no idea there was a name for those strange, benign, painless twitches I sometimes get in my legs, arms, eyelids, and feet.
Dr Eva Lassey says its a common phenomenon known as fasciculation (pronounced fass-ick-you-lay-shun ).
Cleveland Clinic defines fasciculation as a visible, involuntary twitching of an individual muscle. Sounds about right.
It doesn’t hurt and can last for several seconds, minutes, or even hours. The twitches may be annoying or distracting, but they don’t cause harm.
Dr Lassey says the same. The involuntary movements can occur in various parts of the body, like the eyelids, arms, legs, or even the thigh, and while they can be annoying, they are usually harmless.
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Motor disorder specialist offers 6 reasons for fasciculation
Dr Lassey says theyre linked to stress, fatigue, or lifestyle habits.
Stress and anxiety release hormones that can make muscles twitch, even if you don’t feel particularly stressed. They also make your dog more pessimistic.
Meanwhile, overworked or tired muscles are also prone to twitching. This could be as a result of exercise, or simple repetitive movements such as typing, playing a musical instrument, or tapping along to a piece of music.
Sleep is key for muscle recovery, so we can add weird muscle twitches to the long list of ailments sleep deprivation can cause.
She adds that people whose diet is deficient in magnesium, potassium, or calcium may be more prone to irregular muscle twitches. These minerals are vital for muscle function, so lacking them can cause muscles to act up.
Fifth on Dr Lasseys list is being overstimulated. Too much caffeine can ramp up nerve activity and trigger fasciculation.
Finally, not drinking enough water can throw off your electrolyte balance, making it more likely youll experience twitchy muscles.
If you want them to go away, this is what you should do
I told Dr Lassey that my go-to remedy for persistent fasciculation is to massage the area, walk it off, or try to busy myself with something to take my mind off it.
She told me that, while gentle massaging or walking around can sometimes alleviate the twitching, the best approach is to address any underlying causes.
Specifically, she recommends turning our attention to the causes described above. Her tips for staving off muscle spasms apply to pretty much everything ever, but that doesnt make them less valuable.
- Ensure you get enough rest
- Maintain a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients
- Stay hydrated
- Manage stress levels
One way you can help relieve stress is with breathing exercises. If it doesnt stop at fasciculation, however if the twitches come with pain or muscle weakness, or become more severe and persistent its a good idea to consult a healthcare professional, Dr Lassey says.
In most cases, though, these minor muscle twitches are just a normal part of how your body functions and aren’t a cause for concern.
Dr Ivetta Lassey is a doctor of physical therapy and founder of DrSensory. She specializes in supporting people with motor and sensory disorders, particularly those facing conditions like SPD, ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, and PTSD.
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