# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![wrg20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wrg20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wrg20)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/61 "2011-05-10T14:34:22Z")
> [@Jilaad](#): > > ADD. An earlier poster said the leg bouncing helps the brain focus. This is very true, but difficult to describe. > > In “normal ADD mode” I’ll have several things going on in my brain at once. For example right now I have this post, “Reflections” by the supremes, a programming problem from work, and thinking about what I will cook for football this weekend. The different threads are happening pretty much in parallel. One will randomly jump up and become the “primary” thread while the rest are in the background, but all are there. > > As you can imagine, this makes having to focus on one thing quite an adventure. The fidgeting replaces these background threads with something that doesn’t require any actual thought. Leg bouncing is one method of fidgeting, and what I’ll usually do if I can’t get my hands on anything. I know a few neat coin/card flourishes. I have a quarter and a deck of cards at my desk at work and am CONSTANTLY doing something with them. I don’t consciously pick what fidget to do, or even to fidget at all - instead I’ll catch myself mindlessly doing it. > > One cool thing that happens with ADD is hyperfocus. Sometimes all the threads in my brain will get set on the same task, even to the exclusion of things like smelling food or hearing someone talk to me. It is a 100% complete and total focus. When that happens, I don’t fidget at all. This is me to a T. I have ADHD and shake my leg a lot. Inherited it from my father. I also get into what you consider 100% complete and total focus. I can get into this mode for up to 15 hours and nothing will break my concentration. This usually happens when I’m involved in a very stimulating activity such as working on a computer (programming) or playing video games. I also only get about 3.5 hours of sleep each night and function normally. Not sure if that’s typical of someone with ADHD. ---
**Author:** ![Attlas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Attlas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attlas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/62 "2012-07-20T18:58:54Z")
Anxiety is right. And so is shaking. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bPFbXdSGSkc/hqdefault.jpg "Trauma & Tension Releasing Exercises - TRE - David Berceli") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPFbXdSGSkc) We shake because it’s how mammals cope with tension and trauma. The problem is, shaking is “socially unacceptable” to human beings. (Look at all the comments in this thread mentioning how “annoying” it is). Especially among boys, for whom visible signs of fear (what we socially equate shaking with) are as socially unacceptable as sensitivity, vulnerability, and other “soft” expressions translated by authority figures and peers as signs of weakness (such as crying). How often were we told as children to “stop it,” “smarten up,” and/or “suck it up”? Or simply: “boys don’t cry,” instead of being given space for the heart/mind/body to process the traumatic event (and related feelings) as nature designed it to. No, instead, we were taught to bring down the gavel of the intellect and “force ourselves” to assume the “socially acceptable behavior.” So shake away…it will do your mind, body and soul good. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/63 "2012-07-20T23:08:02Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > 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. Ha! Three years later and I’m still doing it right now. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/64 "2012-07-21T00:39:51Z")
Sometimes I am trying to shake a turd out of my pant leg. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/65 "2012-07-21T01:00:22Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > 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! For the same reason, it’s annoying in those huge cramped university lecture halls. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/66 "2012-07-21T02:12:16Z")
Because they’re part gerbil. Can’t sit the hell still. Annoying as freaking hell too. If I can I move away from people like that in seating arrangements etc. It would comfort me to hit them over the head with a baseball bat. ---
**Author:** ![Dude763](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Dude763](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dude763)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/67 "2013-04-03T21:37:10Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I’m right up there with standardized test scores, too. And I’m a fidgeter. I just feel the need to do it. Can’t sit still. I’m a 95+% student in every single one of my university classes, and I don’t think I have ever caught myself bouncing my leg, so it’s not like this theory of your guys’ explains any of those differences. But I have to agree with all of the non-leg-bouncers who have commented on this; it drives me crazy! It feels like every single person in my classes are bouncing their legs, and I’m just constantly distracted by this sea of pulsating and bouncing people. It’s especially bad when I’m writing a test! I’ve been struggling really hard to keep my marks up despite this issue because I can’t focus during any of my lectures or tests… Thankfully I have an understanding girlfriend that quit her habit for me! 🙂 if you need exercise, go for a run; it’s super stress relieving! Otherwise learn to have some control of yourself and please try to stop! ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/68 "2013-04-04T01:46:21Z")
I do it all the time. No ones ever said anything to me though. I honestly wish I could stop. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/69 "2013-04-04T16:22:10Z")
“They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can’t kill the beast.” Looks like about 11.5 months is the longest this thread has stayed dead. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/70 "2013-04-04T19:00:21Z")
It has proven positive effects for people with anxiety and ADD; I have both, and have been compelled to drum my fingers, twiddle my thumbs, bounce my leg, and rub my feet on eachother, etc, my whole life. ---
**Author:** ![Blueboy1938](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blueboy1938](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueboy1938)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/71 "2013-06-15T03:11:51Z")
It’s a nervous tic that mainly afflicts young men that is caused by Calcium deficiency. It is caused by the need for Calcium for growth, mainly laying down bones and teeth, which takes priority from other Calcium functions, such as muscular relaxation - Calcium is a catalyst for this - and nerve activity. That’s why the old wives remedy for sleeplessness - drinking warm milk - works. It can be markedly reduced, if not eliminated, by increased Calcium intake. If dietary Calcium is insufficient, supplementation can be helpful. However, one must use a supplement that also supplies Magnesium and Vitamin D, which are essential in Calcium metabolism. Also, of paramount consideration, is that the Calcium be in an easily assimilated form: Calcium Citrate, for instance. Calcium Carbonate and Phosphate are basically rock. So is “Coral Calcium”. BTW, adequate Calcium can counteract cramping generally, specially in pregnant women (babies’ bone building takes priority and depletes moms’ Calcium stores by mining bones and teeth) and teenagers’ “growing pains”. ---
**Author:** ![Brekmister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Brekmister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brekmister)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/72 "2014-04-14T19:03:36Z")
To be honest, I have the Habit. But that’s only when I am thinking , then I would have both legs shaking and everyone in a 20 foot radius would feel the vibrations on the floor and would cause those old vacuum tv’s to flicker. It sometimes annoys the crap out of people, and when I meet a new person while sitting they get confused with what I’m feeling. My legs are insanely strong probably because of that. Oh and another thing with that is if I get lost in thought while standing, I wander around like I am lost spirit or something. I can’t really prevent that, it just happens. Interesting things. Oh and no, I am almost never nervous when I shake my leg. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/73 "2014-04-15T04:07:24Z")
This has got to be some kind of record. This thread has been resurrected eight times in five years, each time by someone who just registered. ---
**Author:** ![Brekmister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Brekmister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brekmister)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/74 "2014-04-15T04:11:34Z")
Meh, I was just seeing how the media portrayed my wierd way of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/75 "2014-04-16T12:56:48Z")
It’s easier than not shaking. It takes conscious effort to stay still; the shaking happens by itself with no conscious effort. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266/76 "2014-04-16T17:47:54Z")
Keeps me from getting stiff. No not that one… 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-shake-their-legs-while-sitting-down/493266.md?page=3)