As the title says. I go for a 20 minute walk and when I stop moving, I’m not feeling tired or even agitated at all, yet my legs feel like they’re pulsating in different areas, always near the skin. It’s not synchronised with my heartbeat. It stops after a few minutes.
Chat GPT says these are just muscle twitches caused by dehydration or lack of electrolytes. I’m not convinced. Why does it feel almost on the skin and not deeper in the muscles? Why do I feel it after a 20 minute walk that doesn’t make me sweat but I don’t feel it after a 40 minute leg focused workout??? Wouldn’t that be more strenuous on the legs?? Does this thing even have a name?
Thanks
Why do you think it isn’t dehydration? I was told muscle spasms were due to dehydration and lack of body salts like magnesium. I’m no doctor, but I might suggest you drink more water.
Because it seems to happen as a consequence for the movement, and it’s consistent. My hydration levels aren’t. Regardless of how much or what I’ve been drinking, of how much I’ve been sweating, I still feel it. Also note I don’t feel it as much after doing an intense workout in which I sweat bullets. And I’ve never felt it if I’ve been resting the whole day even though I’m sure I must have been dehydrated occasionally on rest days. Also it feels more like something on the skin and not like a regular muscle spasm.
That’s just why I don’t believe it is dehydration, but you could be right, it could be dehydration.🤷🏼♀️
I have never experienced anything like this. Personally I would ask my doctor about it immediately, it sounds very outlandish, walking should not lead to pulsating of any kind
I’ve met plenty of people who do experience it, but nobody knows what it is. I even encourage you ask people you know, you’d be surprised. I’ve never met someone who would be alarmed by it though. But you are right, it is something I should be asking a doctor. I always forget unfortunately
I heard it was due to greater blood flow to areas that routinely don’t experience that level of flow, kind of like how you really notice the breeze on your face after you shave off your beard. Now, I don’t have any proof this is it, but a month or so of regular brisk walks should be enough for your cardiovascular system to adapt to the new requirements, causing the sensation to vastly reduce if not disappear completely.
Have you checked your blood pressure?
Many chemists and supermarkets have automated blood pressure check machines. Some are even free.
It’s the blood pumping through your arteries. I used to get this even in my teens after very long walks. You’re literally just feeling your own pulse as your heart works a bit harder to meet your body’s elevated demand for blood/oxygen.
I’m not sure why it seems to be more apparent after milder activity, but maybe something like walking doesn’t dialate your blood vessels so much so there’s a bit more pressure at certain points?
If you want to confirm its your blood vessels and not muscles, check your pulse as it’s happening and see if its the same rythmn.
As far as I know it’s normal, since I was in peak physical condition at that age (a lot of athletics, running etc.) but if it seems unusual for you personally I guess bring it up to a doctor.
I know what you’re talking about but I don’t know what it is.
A magnesium deficiency can cause twitching in your legs, but I don’t know if anyone on the internet would be able to help tell if the pulsing sensation is caused by muscles contracting or something else.
If you have decent access to healthcare and it’s bothering you, bring it up with your doctor. It’s unlikely anyone here is qualified to be giving you medical advice. And if they were, they likely wouldn’t be comfortable giving a diagnosis based only on a post.
No, this isn’t something bothering me in any other way than making me curious about it. I’m not seeking medical advice, just physiological or biological information about this phenomenon. It doesn’t really feel like a twitch in my muscles, it’s more like my skin is pulsating. My body doesn’t move. It’s just a sensation
Could just be vascular flow from the motion. like when you work out hard with a muscle group, the area will gain blood and turn flush for a while.
Is it possible to feel this flush pulsating at different rythms simultaneously on different areas of my skin? I would think it’s just blood flow but it’s so erratic and not matching my heartbeat
It’s just the spiders under your skin.
But maybe it’s the nerves or capillaries that run through the layers of fat and skin, as walking shakes them up and gets the blood pulsing through. Even in fit people the skin shakes a little as it slides back and forth over the moving muscles. Once you get into a serious workout, there’s too much other sensation from the muscles and tendons, and the blood vessels are as busy and hopefully open as they’re going to get.
Bear in mind I have no actual idea, just speculating.
