Question
Sometimes, when I wake up, I get shaky legs and have to push them down to straighten them out so I can get out of bed.  (Assuming my knees were up etc).  I've had this for 20 years.  I've seen every type of dr. you can name; clonus was a possibility, but in some ways it's not really like that.  Once I stand, they still shake for about 5 seconds and then - bingo - I'm okay.  Have you heard of anything like this; if so, any ideas what things can cause that? Thanks

Answer

Lawrence Gold Somatics  

Hanna Somatic Educatio   Hi, Patty,

If a person is in a state of chronic contraction that pulls the legs in (hamstrings and hip joint flexors), they are likely to awaken in that state.  The effort of straightening doesn't stop the pull-in contraction, so the two actions oppose each other and shakiness would be an expected result.

Doctors don't have a handle on habitual muscular contractions; the label, "clonus", doesn't add anything to ones understanding of the ocndition.  It's a muscle/movement memory problem.  Such conditioning typically forms in response to injury or long-term stress.

The field of somatics deals with such conditions.

May I suggest you get a copy of Thomas Hanna's book, Somatics -- ReAwakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility and Health.  (amazon.com)

Once you understand the nature of the condition, you can intelligently locate someone who can help you with it.  This website has a partial list of practitioners:  http://hannasomatics.com

I offer such services, as well.  For people inaccessible to clinical practitioners, I offer self-relief programs.  If you want to know more, ask.