Involuntary Movements of the Legs

About the Symptom

An involuntary movement is when your body moves uncontrollably. These can include small jerking motions, tremors, or larger limb movements. They usually happen due to problems with the brain or spinal cord.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Involuntary movements of the legs

Possible Causes

Generally, Involuntary movements of the legs can be related to:

• Parkinson's Disease

  A progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. It occurs due to nerve cell damage in the brain. The exact cause for PD is unknown. Risk factors include genetics, male gender, old age, and exposure to certain toxins and environmental factors.

• MELAS Syndrome

  MELAS is a rare genetic disorder that starts in childhood and mainly affects the nervous system and muscles. The disorder is transmitted through the affected person's mother. Typical MELAS symptoms include weak muscles, sudden ("stroke-like") neurological symptoms such as paralysis of the right or left side of the body, blindness, or numbness, in addition to seizures and migraine-like headaches. People who have MELAS are also typically short in size, and have difficulty hearing.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Have you experienced involuntary foot movements?
• How long have you had involuntary movement or spasms in your calves or legs?
• How has the involuntary movement or spasms in the calves or legs changed since it started?
• Have you experienced involuntary movement or spasms in your calves or legs before?

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