# Why do people shake their legs while sitting down? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266 "2009-04-16T04:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/21 "2009-04-17T01:44:28Z")
I have also read that fidgeters are skinnier because they burn those tiny little calories. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/22 "2009-04-17T05:17:49Z")
Crap, I must not be fidgeting enough. Or, to look at it the other way, if I didn’t fidget, I’d have to carry my flab around in a shopping cart. ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/23 "2009-04-17T22:24:38Z")
For the same reason pigeons bob their heads when they walk. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/24 "2009-04-18T21:28:37Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > Interesting fact: Leg shakers and other fidgeters perform better on standardized tests. But don’t ask for a cite – I remember this being reported in a credible news source years ago, back when I fidgeted more. Interesting. I’m a fidgeter who has never scored lower than the 89th percentile in any standardized test I’ve ever taken. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/25 "2009-04-18T22:25:43Z")
I’ve jiggled my crossed leg since the day I learned to sit in a chair and cross my legs. I do it more when anxious or bored. Much of life is anxiety and boredom. I used to be criticized for it by a fat, bovine teacher when I was young and I can only surmise that she was jealous of the fact I could cross my legs and she coild not. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/26 "2009-04-18T22:29:21Z")
I am a leg jiggler. Right now I have my right leg crossed over my left and my right foot LOCKED around my left leg and the darn left leg is STILL jiggling. LOL I think it’s just habit, I have jiggled my legs since I can remember. I recall my mother telling me to stop it before I was even in school (bad manners you know) And it has nothing to do with energy, 'cause I do it even when I’m dead tired. I really think it’s just a habit, at least for me ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/27 "2009-04-19T03:05:31Z")
Veins don’t have the same pumping pressure that arteries have. Muscle contractions in the legs force blood upward, circulating the blood. So says my biology teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Zentr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@Zentr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zentr)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/28 "2009-09-28T05:10:55Z")
Well I really don’t think that this is a “compulsion” that cannot be controlled. I think a lot of people are right, and we do it out of nervousness and anxiety. Sometimes I’ve noticed myself doing it when I didn’t think I was nervous or anxious, but a further look into the expectations of my life denote that perhaps there are a few things I find troubling at the moment that I just hadn’t been paying attention to. Other times, I think it is such a regular thing for people, they begin to do it because they don’t know _how_ to sit still. Fortunately, that is something that can be learned, and please, by all means, if you’re a leg shaker, DO learn to control this! I used to be guilty of leg shaking all too often. I also was called out on this a lot and asked not to do it. I thought of how impossible it must be to stop shaking my leg because it almost felt as if things were too still if I didn’t, so it obviously felt unnatural when stopping, but now, more or less, I have stopped. Occasionally, if I have a lot to do or get nervous at work, I tend to shake my sillies out a bit, but often catch myself. My boyfriend on the other hand, does it SO often, I’m about to amputate him. Now I’m on the receiving end, and it’s not so pleasant. I’ve asked him to stop quite a lot and he said that it annoys him not to, so there for he won’t. Sounds kind of like a terrible addiction to a drug or something, hmm… Ha! Well anyway, for all you leg shakers out there, please, please consider the livelihood of the people around you. It is probably one of the most irritating little ticks out there, especially when the car or floor or row of seats keeps shaking! It’s not as if it is really necessary at all anyway. ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/29 "2009-09-28T12:29:05Z")
I think it’s anxiety. Used to do it a lot as a teenager, not so much as an adult. Now I’m going through a transition and find that I do it on occasion when I have to sit for long spells. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/30 "2009-09-28T12:54:58Z")
In a retirement home it’s a piss shiver. At work it a constant repression of kicking a coworkers ass as they drone on and on. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/31 "2009-09-28T15:11:18Z")
I don’t know why they do it, but it’s really annoying when I’m at the theatre and the row of seats keep shaking because of someone a few seats down. Sit still when you’re in public, people! ---
**Author:** ![MissIntent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@MissIntent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissIntent)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/32 "2009-09-28T15:42:05Z")
My mom and all my siblings and I do it. I always figured it was something either genetic or learned. But honestly it’s an unconscious thing. I don’t even realize I’m doing it unless someone brings it up (like right now). And I know I annoy people doing it in public (I got yelled at once during a world series of poker event), but really I don’t know I’m doing it! It just happens! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/33 "2009-09-28T18:01:55Z")
And I guess this proves even zombies get the shakes. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/34 "2009-09-28T19:45:05Z")
To make me nervous? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/35 "2009-09-28T21:42:25Z")
As it happened I was shaking my leg when I came on this thread. Why do I do it? Not the foggiest. I also drum my fingers, play with my untensils while waiting for a meal in a restaurant. It all drives my wife mad and I try not to, but find myself doing it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/36 "2009-09-29T01:12:58Z")
ADD/ADHD. In order to focus on something when I’d rather be doing something else, I have to hyper-stimulate my brain. The leg jiggling helps tremendously. I’ve even taught it to students because it’s silent and allows them to fidget without bugging others. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/37 "2009-09-29T13:55:52Z")
Ha! I’m doing this right now. I started it in college and I assumed it was the medication I was taking. Boy did I annoy the hell out of some classmates. But I’m no longer taking the medication and I still do it. It’s a nervous habit, I guess. It comforts me. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/38 "2009-09-29T15:28:14Z")
I shake my leg when sitting down to try to dislodge my ferret which is clinging onto my ballsack ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/39 "2009-09-29T16:02:56Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > ADD/ADHD. > > In order to focus on something when I’d rather be doing something else, I have to hyper-stimulate my brain. The leg jiggling helps tremendously. I’ve even taught it to students because it’s silent and allows them to fidget without bugging others. Speak for yourself. Jittery leg people drive me absolutely batty. I can often hear it as their clothes move/foot moves on the floor/leg rubs against something or other. I can often feel the thrum through the floor/seat/whatever. I can see it (although that one is minor it is distracting to me). It puts me on edge. In private knock yourself out. Sitting next to me please stop. ---
**Author:** ![nylanyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nylanyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nylanyd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/40 "2010-09-12T16:03:28Z")
we are doing a research about it now. wish us luck for success.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266.md?page=3)