Shaking of the legs is not necessarily a problem; it could be a harmless and temporary response to stress or pain. However, it becomes a concern when the shaking becomes consistent when you lift your heel. Also, when it becomes uncontrollable, it results in a health issue called tremor.
There are many reasons why your leg shakes when you lift your heel, and some of them are:
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the major reasons why your leg may shake when you lift up your heel. This is because when you are anxious, your body releases an adrenaline hormone that makes your body go into a fight-or-flight mode. At this stage, your mind becomes more alert, your breathing faster, and your heart pumps more blood into your muscles. This makes you feel jittery and shaky in both the legs and the hands.
In addition to the shaking, anxiety can trigger companion effects such as:
- nausea
- dizziness
- overall weakness
- breathing disorder
- sweating or chills
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that makes your mind more alert, and taking too much to it can cause your body to jitter. Caffeine is good, but you can’t overlook its effects on the body when taken in excess.
You are to take 400 milligrams per day (three to four cups of coffee). Anything more than this is an overdose. Also, you should be cautious while taking other stimulant drugs, either legal or illegal.
Other accompanied effects of caffeine and stimulants overdose are:
- excessive sweating
- fester heartbeat/restlessness
- insomnia
- dizziness
Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
RLS is an abnormal leg syndrome that gives you an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, especially when you lift up your heel or strike your feet at night. It can also cause:
- Itching sensations on the legs
- Throbbing, and
- Crawling
If you notice these symptoms, you should consult a doctor for a remediate procedure.
Genetics
Essential tremor is a gene mutation issue that can pass through parents to their children. If your parents have the essential tremor, there is a high chance that you will have it too.
Essential tremor affects both the legs and hands. However, scientists haven’t determined a precise cause of this tremor. However, they believe that the tremor is caused by genetic mutation and exposure to a certain environment.
Boredom
When you are bored, your body tends to save up tensions, and after a long while, it gets released through the shaking of your legs.
Most times. When you are forced to sit for a long hour in a dull meeting or boring lecture, you get tensed and bored and begin shaking your legs. This is usually temporary and frees up after some time. But when it comes too severe, you might have to consult a doctor.
Alcohol
The intake of alcohol alters the levels of dopamine in the brain. Over a long time, your brain gradually adjusts to these changes and becomes more tolerant of alcohol’s effects. This is why people who take alcohol need to increase their intake to achieve the same results. But when such an individual withdraws or stops drinking alcohol, they may develop tremors, a withdrawal effect. This tremor can cause your legs to shake, especially when you lift up your heel.
Some other withdrawal effect of alcohol includes:
- irritability
- hallucinations/nightmares
- insomnia
- nausea/vomiting
- seizures
- anxiety
however, if these symptoms become severe, you must seek immediate medical attention.
Medication
Most medicines have side effects that affect the nervous system. Some of the drugs that can cause shaking as a side effect include:
- reflux drugs, like Reglan
- corticosteroids
- valproex sodium (Depakote)
- valproic acid (Depakene)
- asthma bronchodilator medicines
- antidepressants
- neuroleptics
- bipolar disorder drugs, such as lithium
- weight loss drugs
- overdose of thyroid medications
When you notice these effects, you shouldn’t immediately discontinue the drugs, especially if it is prescribed. You can consult your doctor for alternative medication or a soothing relief to the side effects.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid gland that can cause shaking in the legs. Typically, the thyroid gland helps to regulate your body’s metabolism. When it gets too much, it sends your body into overdrive.
Whenever the leg shaking is usually not a problem. But you will have to consult the doctor when it becomes consistent and goes ahead to interfere in your daily life. Other effects of this overactive hormone include:
- changes in menstrual periods
- insomnia
- increased appetite
- anxiety
- weight loss
if the symptoms include vision blurring or inability to walk or stand, you must see the doctor immediately.
What to Do When Your Legs Shake When Your Life Up You Heel
One of the most proven effective methods to do when your legs shake is to relax your back to a relaxed state. If it isn’t severe, you can try out the curative and relaxing techniques below.
- Yoga Practices: This is very effective, especially if the leg shaking is caused by anxiety. Trusted Source has proved that regular yoga practices help to reduce anxiety symptoms. Yoga helps to free your mind and open it up for healing and communion to divinity to restore your clarity and sharpen your mind.
- Muscle relaxation: You can carry out a muscle relaxation technique that entails contracting your muscles and relaxing the different muscle regions, which can be done in tandem with deep breathing. Muscle relaxation helps your muscles and body to relax and avoid any form of over-activity that might cause your legs to shake.
- Mind Exercises. Mind exercise, such as meditation, is another powerful technique to prevent your legs from shaking. Some apps help with meditation, such as Calm, Headspace, iBreathe, Simple Habit, etc. Go through the app, and choose the one that best suits you.
Conclusion
If you are always caught in the middle of anxiety and depression and always suffer from anxiety-induced shaking, I recommend you see a therapist or doctor. We can’t prevent certain factors such as sitting for long hours listening to a boring lecture or attending a boring meeting that can cause your legs to shake, but you can still control your emotions. If the shaking becomes constant and comes with resounding effects, do ensure you consult a doctor.