How do I stop the urge to move my legs?
Lifestyle and home remedies
- Try baths and massages. Soaking in a warm bath and massaging the legs can relax the muscles.
- Apply warm or cool packs.
- Establish good sleep hygiene.
- Exercise.
- Avoid caffeine.
- Consider using a foot wrap or a vibrating pad.
Can anxiety cause restless feet?

Here are some common restless legs triggers, plus tips to help you overcome them and get some sleep: Stress and anxiety. Rachel Salas, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, says that stress and anxiety are big restless legs triggers.
Does drinking water help restless legs?
Absolutely. Drinking water can help with restless legs as it helps prevent dehydration. Avoid stimulants like nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, or sugary drinks before bed. Being dehydrated can trigger RLS, so staying hydrated, and drinking water consistently can help curb the body’s temptations to move.
Does RLS lead to Parkinson’s?
Does having RLS increase the risk of developing PD? Since RLS affects as much as 4-10% of the US adult population, it is clear that the vast majority of those with RLS do not ever develop PD. Despite this, it still might be the case that RLS increases the risk of subsequently developing PD.

Is restless leg syndrome serious?
Although RLS doesn’t lead to other serious conditions, symptoms can range from barely bothersome to incapacitating. Many people with RLS find it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Severe RLS can cause marked impairment in life quality and can result in depression.
Why do I constantly move my feet?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms commonly occur in the late afternoon or evening hours, and are often most severe at night when a person is resting, such as sitting or lying in bed.
What is the best medication for restless leg syndrome?
Dopamine agonists may be recommended if you’re experiencing frequent symptoms of restless legs syndrome. They work by increasing dopamine levels, which are often low. Dopamine agonists that may be recommended include: ropinirole.
Can restless legs be a symptom of something else?
RLS usually isn’t related to a serious underlying medical problem. However, it sometimes accompanies other conditions, such as: Peripheral neuropathy. This damage to the nerves in the hands and feet is sometimes due to chronic diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism.
Is Restless leg psychological?
Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disturbing sensorimotor disorder negatively influencing both sleep and psychological functioning.
Is restless legs a symptom of MS?
People with MS Are More Likely to Have Restless Legs Syndrome, Says New Study. Nearly one quarter of people with MS involved in a new study experienced restless legs syndrome, compared with less than 4% in people without the disease. Restless legs syndrome causes an urgent need to move the legs due to discomfort.
When should I see a doctor for RLS?
If you have RLS, you should also see a doctor if you are: Losing sleep often. Feeling depressed or anxious. Having trouble concentrating.
Why put a bar of soap under your mattress?
Apparently, a bar of soap releases the mineral magnesium while you sleep, which believers say will relieve nocturnal leg cramping. And for those who suffer from RLS, Dr. Mehmet Oz of The Dr. Oz Show recommends leaving a bar of lavender soap under the sheets overnight.
Does magnesium help restless legs?
Magnesium supplementation is often suggested for restless legs syndrome (RLS) or period limb movement disorder (PLMD) based on anecdotal evidence that it relieves symptoms and because it is also commonly recommended for leg cramps.
What medications worsen restless leg syndrome?
The following medications have been known to cause or exacerbate the symptoms of RLS:
- Antidopaminergic medications (eg, neuroleptics)
- Diphenhydramine.
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin-norepinepherine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine.
- Lithium.
Why do I keep moving my feet when sitting?
Overview. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when you’re sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.
Why do I shake my feet when sitting?
Leg shaking can be a subtle annoyance or an intense experience that causes muscle tension and difficulty walking. Many issues, ranging from restless legs syndrome (RLS) to serious conditions such as dementia, can cause someone’s leg to shake.
Are restless legs related to anxiety?
Research has established a relationship between the symptoms of RLS and mood symptoms, but causality is unclear. Some studies have indicated that the symptoms of RLS precede those of depression or anxiety, and others relate the severity of mood symptoms to the severity of RLS symptoms.
Is Restless leg neurological?
RLS is both a sleep and a neurological sensory disorder. Treatment is directed toward symptom relief.
Is walking good for restless leg syndrome?
Many people with restless legs syndrome (RLS) find that regular, moderate exercise helps relieve symptoms. Think walking, cycling, and swimming.
What Vitamin Helps Restless Legs?
A 2014 study found that vitamin D supplements reduced RLS symptoms in people with RLS and vitamin D deficiency ( 9 ). And for people on hemodialysis, vitamins C and E supplements may help relieve RLS symptoms (4, 10 ). Supplementation with iron or vitamins D, C, or E can help certain people with RLS.
What does it mean when you feel the urge to move?
People who feel this urge say their need to move their legs is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing.
Why do people rub their feet together when they’re sitting?
There’s a broad range of self-nurturing behaviours humans and animals do (and that aren’t “necessary” motions for other purposes), solely for the purpose of “nesting” or getting comfy. It seems rubbing your feet together is just that … getting “in-tune” with oneself, integrated environment and physical being.
Why do my legs feel strange when I Wake Up?
Patients experience this strange feeling in their legs a lot more when they are resting or sleeping at night. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity: People with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) always have the urge to move and do something. In order to ease this urge, they tend to shake their legs.
What causes uncontrollable movements in adults?
What causes uncontrollable movement? There are several potential causes for involuntary movements. In general, involuntary movement suggests damage to nerves or areas of your brain that affect motor coordination. However, a variety of underlying conditions can produce involuntary movement.