Thigh Muscle Twitching

What would you say when a section of muscles located in the thigh repeatedly move up and down without your permission. Confused? Don't be, because it is a common problem experienced by millions all over the world. This condition is referred to as thigh muscle twitching, and is typically marked by involuntary muscle movement.

The twitching action is visible under the skin, and causes sudden abnormal contraction and relaxation of the muscles continuously. In most cases, people tend to ignore these uncontrolled muscle jerks as they do not cause any pain. However, when these involuntary muscle movements are painful, ignoring them becomes difficult.

Why do thigh muscles twitch once in a while (for a short time) or sometimes constantly for hours. Reasons are plenty, and are often related to muscle fatigue. It is discussed below:

No doubt exercise is good for health, but some individuals in their enthusiasm, continue doing it for long periods of time. Too much of physical activity involving part of the muscles is bound to cause muscle twitching. This holds true for the thigh muscles. Exercises like cycling for an extended duration of time, puts a lot of strain on the thigh muscles.

Regular cyclists often experience uncontrollable muscle movement of the thighs for a short duration. This is probably a sign of too much exertion and is and indication of muscles becoming extremely tired. Long distance running or walking are the other strenuous activities that trigger thigh muscle twitching pain.

Inadequate water intake can be yet another factor behind uncontrolled motion of thigh muscles. Muscle joints and pain has been commonly associated with dehydration. When it comes to maintaining muscle elasticity or building the muscles, drinking water in adequate amounts is extremely important.

The water content in our body is approximately 55%, whereas lean muscle contains around 75% water. Therefore, when water in the muscle tissues starts decreasing, then the muscles tend to become less flexible. If this continues, the muscles tighten excessively, eventually causing pain and muscle spasms.

In case the body is not getting adequate supply of minerals like calcium and magnesium, muscle twitching in the thighs is a likely possibility. This may occur when the diet is low in these minerals. The amount of calcium present in our body influences muscle actions. Studies show that calcium ions are chiefly responsible in controlling muscle contraction.

Muscle cells do contain calcium, which ensures proper muscle contraction. However, in the presence of inadequate calcium, muscle fatigue may occur and controlled muscle activity is difficult.

On the other hand, relaxation of the muscles is controlled by magnesium. So with less magnesium, the muscles will have a hard time relaxing. Thus, when the body is deprived of either or both of these minerals, the thigh muscles may twitch several times during the day.

Today's lifestyle is stress ridden, which not only disrupts the mental well-being but can also have a negative impact on the muscles. Muscle twitching from anxiety and stress might not be just confined to the thighs, but can also happen in the other areas of the body, such as the arms, neck, shoulders and feet.

Muscle diseases like myopathy, typically marked by faulty muscle fibers, may also bring about twitching. So when the thigh muscles are itself defective, they may display involuntary movement frequently. Muscle weakness is sometimes linked to myopathy.

Muscle movement is due to the nerves that carry electrical signals from the brain to the desired muscle group. Unless the nerves do not transmit the signal properly, moving the muscles is a distinct possibility. Transmission of electrical signals takes a backseat when the nerve gets damaged.

So when the nerve connected to the thigh muscles is not in a position to send electrical signals correctly, it can cause constant twitching. Neurological disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in which the nerve cells of the brain do not function properly, may force the muscles to twitch.

Electrolytic imbalance too can cause uncontrolled muscle movement in the thighs. People complaining about persistent muscle twitching could actually be suffering from disturbances in electrolyte balance.

Electrolytes like sodium and potassium promote muscle function and initiate proper movement of the muscles. So when these electrolytes are not in the normal range, one can expect muscle aches and twitching.

To be honest, this involuntary movement isn't serious, and so a visit to a doctor is absolutely unnecessary. In most cases, it comes to a halt within minutes. One of the best ways to prevent this from occurring is to discard the habit of doing exercises for a long duration.

Ensuring that the daily diet is a good source of essential minerals, can go a long way in preventing the onset of these involuntary muscle movements. A light massage everyday may also help to relieve any pain associated with thigh muscle twitching.