2007-03-25 18:20:37 · 12 answers · asked by Jazzy 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
A hypnic jerk, or hypnagogic massive jerk, usually occurs just as we are falling asleep. People often describe it as a falling sensation or an electric shock, and it is a completely normal experience. It most commonly occurs when sleeping uncomfortably or over-tired.
When we drift of into sleep, the body undergoes changes in temperature, breathing and muscle relaxation. The hypnic jerk may be a result of the muscles relaxing. The brain misinterprets this as a sign of falling and signals our limbs to wake up; hence the jerking legs or arms.
In most people, a hypnic jerk usually occurs just once or twice a night. However, when a person is deprived of sleep or trying to fight sleep, it may happen more often. In extreme cases, the muscle twitches can happen every thirty seconds or more. This disorder is called periodic limb movement.
Another theory put forward to try and explain the hypnic jerk is that the body reacts to falling asleep much in the way that a body may twitch when dying. The hypnic jerk is a reflex used to keep the body functioning. The brain might register falling asleep as a situation in which the body needs to be stimulated.
2007-04-02 00:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by zartMD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called a rhythmic jerk and usually happens right after you just fall asleep. I don't know why it happens, but I do know that when you dream, you do not move except for involuntary muscle movement like rapid eye mvmnt and breathing. The exception to this rule is when you are about 60 yrs old for some reason, ppl around age 60 and older begin to move while dreaming.
2007-04-02 00:54:57 · answer #2 · answered by nursegrl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Restless legs syndrome ......elevate the legs on a pillow this helps a lot. Goodnight and sleep tight.
2007-04-02 11:44:02 · answer #3 · answered by holly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is mostly the legs then this would be restless leg syndrome other wise it is just a spasm so to speak. I get it once in a while when I am just starting to fall alseep.
2007-03-26 01:22:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i once herd the reason people do this quickly after falling asleep is because there heart rate drops to quickly and the jolt is it being slowed right down
2007-03-26 01:24:15 · answer #5 · answered by manic jester 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because they are having a bad dream about something.
2007-03-26 01:23:42 · answer #6 · answered by Josh D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not saying that I believe it, but one idea is that the astral body is trying to rise and snaps back.
2007-03-26 01:59:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they are dreaming of something ang they react to it.
2007-03-30 12:54:43 · answer #8 · answered by Trigs S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
scientifically, people roll over so the blood can flow throughout their bodies evenly.
2007-03-26 01:24:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
there just involentary muscle spasms, nothing to worry about.
2007-04-02 07:29:06 · answer #10 · answered by hiphiphurray@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋