Muscle twitches can occur for many reasons, such as a lack of sleep, caffeine use, nutrient deficiencies, overexertion, and stress. Depending on the cause, treatments and remedies may help relieve twitching muscles.
Muscle twitching is common and usually not serious. They are an involuntary contraction of the fibers that make up a muscle.
Nerves control muscle fibers. When something stimulates or damages a nerve, it causes the muscle fibers to contract, resulting in a twitch.
In this article, we explore the causes of muscle twitches. We also discuss how to treat and prevent muscle twitches.
Muscle twitching, also known as fasciculation, has many causes. These include:
Overexertion
When a person exercises vigorously or for a long period, they may experience muscle twitching or shaking afterward.
This occurs because of muscle fatigue. Exercise forces muscles to work hard until they become tired, which can make it harder for them to keep working when a person does further activities.
Sweating during exercise could also affect the balance of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes are minerals that play a role in muscle contractions. When a person does not have the right balance, they may experience cramps or twitching.
Water intake
Water and electrolytes work together in the body. When a person does not drink enough water, they may develop dehydration, which some anecdotally report causes muscle twitching.
However, drinking too much water can also dilute electrolytes in the body. A
Staying hydrated is important, particularly during exercise. People who work out may benefit from consuming electrolyte drinks to maintain balance.
Lack of sleep
Some people experience muscle twitching when they are tired or have not had enough sleep.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology also lists sleep deprivation as a cause of eyelid twitching, which is a common but usually benign symptom.
Getting more sleep may help stop this type of muscle twitching.
Caffeine
Drinking too much coffee, tea, or energy drinks that contain caffeine may cause muscle twitching.
Caffeine is a stimulant. When a person has too much of it, caffeine may stimulate muscle twitching anywhere in the body.
Stress and anxiety
Psychological stress or high anxiety levels may lead to muscle tension, which may result in muscle twitching.
Nutrient deficiency
Several nutritional deficiencies could result in muscle twitching, directly or indirectly. For example:
- Calcium: The body needs calcium to support proper muscle function. Having a calcium deficiency may cause muscle twitching or spasms.
- Magnesium: Magnesium plays a role in keeping the nerves and muscles healthy. Magnesium also helps to transport calcium across cell membranes. Having a deficiency could cause twitching.
- Vitamin D: The body needs adequate vitamin D to absorb calcium from food.
- Vitamin B12: B vitamins also support neurological health. A B12 deficiency
can lead to cramps or spasms, tingling hands and feet, dizziness, and fatigue.
People could have one of these deficiencies due to having a limited diet, difficulty absorbing nutrients from foods, or, in the case of vitamin D, a lack of sunlight exposure.
Less commonly, other conditions, such as those that affect the kidneys, and certain medications could result in nutrient deficiencies. The kidneys play a role in electrolyte balance, and medications can affect nutrient absorption.
Medications and supplements
Some medications and dietary supplements may lead to involuntary muscle twitching. This reaction may be a side effect of the product itself, a result of taking too much, or due to an interaction with other drugs.
For example, taking high amounts of vitamin B6
People can check the label to see if twitching is a possible side effect of the medication they take. However, it is important not to stop or alter the dosage without talking with a doctor first.
For supplements, speak with a doctor about whether the product could be causing problems. They may want to test levels of nutrients in the blood to see if they are within a healthy range. They can then give advice according to those results.
Sometimes, muscle twitching occurs for less common reasons, some of which may be serious or require medical treatment. These include:
Pinched spinal nerve
A pinched spinal nerve, known as radiculopathy, may cause muscle twitching and spasms. Other symptoms include a tingling or numb feeling in the foot or leg.
A herniated disk can cause a pinched nerve, often the result of trauma. When a disk in the spine is damaged, it may squeeze the root of the corresponding nerve.
Multiple sclerosis
In some cases, muscle twitching is a sign of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a degenerative condition that affects the central nervous symptom.
In MS, muscle twitching is known as spasticity. This term describes when muscles become stiff and contract, which may cause difficulty moving parts of the body.
Other symptoms of MS include:
- fatigue
- numbness or tingling
- weakness
- dizziness
- reduced sexual function
- chronic pain
- changes in cognition
- walking difficulty
- vision problems
However, people with MS do not necessarily have all of these symptoms, and they may come and go.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Rarely, muscle twitching can be a sign of a degenerative neurological condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An older name for the condition is Lou Gehrig’s disease.
ALS causes a person’s nerve cell function to decline gradually. Nerve cells, or neurons, control a person’s voluntary muscle movements. When a person’s neurons stop functioning, their muscles are not able to work properly. This causes:
- muscle weakness
- muscle twitching
- muscle atrophy
Over time, a person with ALS may lose the ability to control their movements.
Isaac syndrome
Isaac syndrome is a
A person with Issac syndrome has overactive peripheral nerve axons. This means that their nerves continuously trigger their muscle fibers. This causes muscle contractions even when someone is resting.
Other symptoms of Isaac syndrome include:
- muscle stiffness
- cramping
- sweating
- trouble relaxing muscles
A muscle twitch and a muscle spasm are both involuntary contractions of a muscle, although they are not quite the same.
A muscle twitch is a short contraction that may happen repeatedly. It can cause discomfort but is not painful.
A muscle spasm is a prolonged contraction that may cause pain. Muscle spasms are also known as muscle cramps. They often happen after exercise.
In most cases, muscle twitching is temporary and goes away on its own. As a result, it may not require any treatment.
However, people may find it helpful to try:
- setting some time aside for relaxation
- getting enough sleep each night
- reducing caffeine intake
- drinking enough water
- eating a nutritious, balanced diet
In general, people should not take dietary supplements, such as vitamins, unless they know they have a gap in their diet. Taking supplements unnecessarily can result in taking too much.
The above measures may help ease or prevent muscle twitches. However, if an underlying health condition is the cause, a doctor will work with the individual on a treatment plan to treat or manage the symptoms.
If someone experiences muscle twitching that does not go away for more than 2 weeks or that occurs in multiple places, they should speak with a doctor.
If a person has a sudden onset of muscle twitching along with other symptoms, such as numbness or weakness, seek prompt medical advice.
Muscle twitching has many everyday causes, most of which are not serious. Usually, the twitching will stop on its own. Some people may want to make lifestyle changes, if relevant, to reduce how often they experience muscle twitches.
Some causes of muscle twitching are more serious, but these conditions are mostly rare. If the twitching continues for more than a few weeks, despite changes such as getting enough sleep or avoiding caffeine, it is important to contact a doctor.
If a person receives a diagnosis of MS or ALS, their doctor will support them to manage their symptoms.