Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRestless Leg SyndromeMedication Side EffectsAnxietyMSParkinson’sAlcoholHyperthyroidismADHDBoredomWhen to See a Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Restless Leg Syndrome

Medication Side Effects

Anxiety

MS

Parkinson’s

Alcohol

Hyperthyroidism

ADHD

Boredom

When to See a Provider

Leg shaking may be voluntary, or it may be a tremor. A tremor is an involuntary muscle contraction, meaning you are not in control of the leg movement.

Legtremorsand other types of shaking may happen for many reasons and are not always a cause for concern. However, there are some conditions that cause leg shaking that may warrant a visit with your healthcare provider.

Geber86 / Getty Images

Close up of a doctor having an appointment with a patient with leg pain

RLS may look the same as a tremor. However, it is different since it is a voluntary movement of the legs.

People with RLS have an urge to move their legs because of uncomfortable feelings such as tingling, burning, or pain. Itching and crawling sensations in the legs can also be present in people with RLS. These symptoms improve with movement and are typically worse at night.

RLS is commonly seen in people who are pregnant, have diabetes, or are deficient in certain nutrients. That being said, anyone can develop the syndrome.

What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?

In some cases, a person can develop shaking legs because of the medication they are taking. Medications that can cause leg shaking include:

Anxietydrives the body into a near-constant state of fight or flight. The fight-or-flight response is a reaction in the body that is designed to alert you to a threat and prepare you to survive. In people with anxiety, things that are not actually threats to one’s survival can set off that stress response in the body.

Psychogenic Tremor

Anxiety tremors fall under the category of psychogenic tremors. When a person has anxiety, they can experience tremor-like sensations, such as muscle twitching, shaking, or trembling.

Tremors, Hand Shaking, and Tics in Children

Multiple sclerosisis anautoimmune disease, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

If a person with MS experiences nerve damage in cells that are in control of their muscle movements, they can develop tremors and leg shaking.

MS and TremorsWhile not everyone with MS will experience leg shaking or tremors, studies show that roughly 25% to 58% of people with MS do.

MS and Tremors

While not everyone with MS will experience leg shaking or tremors, studies show that roughly 25% to 58% of people with MS do.

Tremor as a Symptom of Multiple Sclerosis

Parkinson’s diseaseis a condition that affects the nervous system. People who develop Parkinson’s disease experience uncontrollable movements that progressively worsen over time. Tremors are typically the first warning sign that a person has the disease. Other symptoms of Parkinson’s include:

Alcohol withdrawal can cause tremors that fall under the category of enhanced physiologic tremors. These shaking movements can develop because the use of alcohol can change how the nervous system functions.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Leg ShakingThe body tremors that develop during alcohol withdrawal are typically called “the shakes,” and begin within five to 10 hours following a person’s last alcoholic beverage. The shakes can last for up to two days.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Leg Shaking

The body tremors that develop during alcohol withdrawal are typically called “the shakes,” and begin within five to 10 hours following a person’s last alcoholic beverage. The shakes can last for up to two days.

Hyperthyroidismmeans that you have an overactive thyroid. The thyroid is a gland at the base of the neck. An overactive thyroid produces too many thyroid hormones, which are important hormones that control the way your body uses energy. These hormones play a role in key bodily functions, such as breathing and digestion.

Hyperthyroidism can make your body speed up, causing you to have symptoms such as nervousness and a rapid heartbeat. You may also experience leg tremors.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically begins in childhood. In ADHD, leg shaking is a behavioral habit, not an involuntary movement.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are considered disabilities and affect how the brain and neurological system functions. The symptoms associated with ADHD include:

Leg Shaking and ADHDLeg shaking may be a symptom of ADHD because people with the disorder often fidget or squirm.

Leg Shaking and ADHD

Leg shaking may be a symptom of ADHD because people with the disorder often fidget or squirm.

You might shake your leg when you’re bored as a way to release tension.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Leg shaking may be worrisome, although it is not always indicative of a serious disease. If you are experiencing other symptoms, including difficulty with walking or standing, trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, cognitive changes, or vision loss, visit a healthcare provider. You may have an underlying health condition that requires treatment.

Summary

Uncontrolled leg movements can have a number of causes, from restless leg syndrome to hyperthyroidism to anxiety. Using certain substances such as alcohol or stimulant drugs can also cause leg shaking.

If you are worried about your leg shaking or if it interferes with your daily life, contact your healthcare provider.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, Han C, Li J, Xu X, Zhang G, Lin Z, Xiong N, Wang T.Restless Legs Syndrome: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Front Aging Neurosci.2017 Jun 2;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171Crawford P, Zimmerman EE.Tremor: sorting through the differential diagnosis.afp. 2018;97(3):180-186.Cornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia: A Review and Update.Ochsner J.2017 Summer;17(2):162-174National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Tremor.Makhoul K, Ahdab R, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Ayache SS.Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis-An Overview and Future Perspectives.Brain Sci.2020 Oct 12;10(10):722. doi:10.3390/brainsci10100722National Center for Biotechnology Information.Parkinson’s Disease: Pathogenesis and Clinical Aspects.MedlinePlus.Hyperthyroidism.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, Han C, Li J, Xu X, Zhang G, Lin Z, Xiong N, Wang T.Restless Legs Syndrome: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Front Aging Neurosci.2017 Jun 2;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171Crawford P, Zimmerman EE.Tremor: sorting through the differential diagnosis.afp. 2018;97(3):180-186.Cornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia: A Review and Update.Ochsner J.2017 Summer;17(2):162-174National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Tremor.Makhoul K, Ahdab R, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Ayache SS.Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis-An Overview and Future Perspectives.Brain Sci.2020 Oct 12;10(10):722. doi:10.3390/brainsci10100722National Center for Biotechnology Information.Parkinson’s Disease: Pathogenesis and Clinical Aspects.MedlinePlus.Hyperthyroidism.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, Han C, Li J, Xu X, Zhang G, Lin Z, Xiong N, Wang T.Restless Legs Syndrome: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Front Aging Neurosci.2017 Jun 2;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171Crawford P, Zimmerman EE.Tremor: sorting through the differential diagnosis.afp. 2018;97(3):180-186.Cornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia: A Review and Update.Ochsner J.2017 Summer;17(2):162-174National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Tremor.Makhoul K, Ahdab R, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Ayache SS.Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis-An Overview and Future Perspectives.Brain Sci.2020 Oct 12;10(10):722. doi:10.3390/brainsci10100722National Center for Biotechnology Information.Parkinson’s Disease: Pathogenesis and Clinical Aspects.MedlinePlus.Hyperthyroidism.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, Han C, Li J, Xu X, Zhang G, Lin Z, Xiong N, Wang T.Restless Legs Syndrome: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Front Aging Neurosci.2017 Jun 2;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171

Crawford P, Zimmerman EE.Tremor: sorting through the differential diagnosis.afp. 2018;97(3):180-186.

Cornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia: A Review and Update.Ochsner J.2017 Summer;17(2):162-174

National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Tremor.

Makhoul K, Ahdab R, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Ayache SS.Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis-An Overview and Future Perspectives.Brain Sci.2020 Oct 12;10(10):722. doi:10.3390/brainsci10100722

National Center for Biotechnology Information.Parkinson’s Disease: Pathogenesis and Clinical Aspects.

MedlinePlus.Hyperthyroidism.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?