I'm with R41 -- 40 was the beginning of being middle-aged.. But my 50's have shown me it really is the beginning of the end. I had an sports injury @ 50 that made it difficult for me to exercise, and I put on 20 lbs. The knee surgery I had to try to correct it only left things worse.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles while drifting off to sleep is called myoclonus. It is caused by sudden muscle contractions, also known as positive myoclonus, or muscle relaxation, which is referred to as negative myoclonus.
Q: My husband jumps, twitches and jerks all night long in... May 25, 2000|By Dr. Allen Douma. Q: My husband jumps, twitches and jerks all night long in his sleep and keeps me awake. What causes this and what can be done to prevent it? A: Your husband's problem may be one of two syndromes: nocturnal myoclonus syndrome or restless legs syndrome. Myoclonus is the medical term for the sudden contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. This is a neuromuscular problem. It can happen anywhere, but is quite common in the legs.