Toe Twitching: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhy is My Toe Twitching and How Do I Stop It?

Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D. — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on August 15, 2018

Causes
Night twitching
Treatment
Seeking medical help
Prevention
Summary

Overview

Toe twitching, also called a tremor or a spasm, can be caused by a variety of conditions. Many simply result from temporary interruptions in your circulatory system, muscles, or joints. Others may be linked to how much you exercise or what you eat.

Symptoms of toe twitching are usually fleeting and don’t require any medical attention. Most causes of harmless (benign) twitching can be treated with a few quick activities at home.

But if twitching is accompanied by more serious symptoms, like fatigue or fever, and persists for more than a few weeks, see a doctor.

Toe twitching causes

Your nerves, muscles, and even blood flow can all cause toe twitching. A deficiency in certain nutrients and minerals can also be a cause.

Poor blood circulation

Poor circulation in your toes can lead to a lack of oxygen supply to toe muscles. This can result from blood vessels being constricted for a number of reasons, such as a calcium or potassium deficiency.

It can also result from plaque buildup in your arteries from conditions like atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Stretching of the muscle or muscle irritation

Stretching your toe muscles too suddenly or forcefully can cause them to twitch or even cramp as they quickly contract and become stiff.

Using your toe and foot muscles for a long period of time can irritate the muscles and cause twitching, especially if you don’t stay hydrated or replenish nutrients with a meal.

This is common after an intensive workout, being on your feet all day, or performing manual labor like yardwork.

Joint problems

Joint inflammation or injury can put pressure on or damage motor nerves that deliver signals to your toe muscles to move. This can cause the nerves to become overactive and make your toe muscles contract involuntarily, which is known as muscle fasciculation.

Nutrient deficiency

A lack of certain vitamins and nutrients can cause muscle spasms throughout your body, including in your toes. For example, vitamin D makes it harder for your body to absorb other nutrients like calcium and phosphate.

Not getting enough vitamin B-12 can also affect your nervous system’s ability to properly maintain itself, which can cause twitching.

Painful legs moving toes syndrome

Painful legs moving toes syndrome (PLMT) happens when your toes move involuntarily accompanied by noticeable leg pain. This condition may result from nerve and spinal cord damage or injury.

Nerve damage

Nerve damage from an injury or from conditions like autoimmune disorders or peripheral neuropathy can interrupt motor nerve function and cause toe muscle fasciculation.

Central nervous system conditions

Some more serious central nervous system conditions can cause muscle twitching throughout your body, including your toes.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

ALS happens when motor neurons that transmit signals from nerves to your muscles become weak and die off.

Parkinson’s disease

Muscle twitching is one of the early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This condition happens when neurons that transmit nerve signals in your brain start to disappear. Consistent muscle twitching that results in toe curling or clenching is called dystonia.

Nerve damage (neuropathy)

Neuropathy happens when nerves are damaged. This can be caused by injury, overexertion of foot muscles, or conditions that can cause toxic substances to build up, such as diabetes or kidney disease.

Peripheral neuropathy is somewhat common, with 20 million people in the United States affected.

Spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare genetic condition in which motor neurons are gradually lost. This condition affects less than .02 percent of babies born in the United States.

Muscle weakness (myopathy)

Myopathy happens when muscle fibers function improperly. There are three types of myopathy, the most common being myositis.

Toe twitching at night

Twitching that happens as you’re falling asleep is known as hypnagogic (hypnic) jerking. This can be caused by anxiety, use of stimulants like caffeine, or exercising close to bedtime. It can affect many of your muscle groups, including your toes.

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is another condition in which your leg and arm muscles can twitch while you’re asleep. These twitches can be small, isolated to your toe, or involve your entire limb.

Toe twitching treatment

Benign toe twitching usually doesn’t need any treatment. It’ll usually go away on its own after a few days.

You may need treatment if an underlying condition is causing your toe twitching. Treatments may include:

regular stretching exercises to reduce risk of toe twitching and cramping
foot massage to relieve tension, stress, and pressure in toe muscles
prescription medications, such as beta blockers or seizure medications

Surgical treatment can address conditions that affect your muscles or nerves, such as nerve damage. Treatments can include:

nerve repair
transfers
grafts
neurolysis (taking out scar tissue from a nerve)

Home remedies

Consider these things to do at home to reduce your toe twitching:

Warm compress or water. Use an electric heating pad or wrap a warm, damp towel around your toe to reduce muscle spasms. Dipping your foot in a warm foot bath for 20 minutes can also help.
Cold compress or ice. Wrap ice or a frozen bag of vegetables in a towel and place it on your toe. Lightly massage the toe to reduce spasms.
Electrolyte intake. Drink electrolyte-infused water or sports drinks like Gatorade to replenish lost electrolytes, especially after heavy exercise that can make you more prone to muscle cramps.

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