Twitching

Overview
Twitching, in medical terminology, refers to a type of involuntary muscle contraction. A twitch differs from a reflex eye muscle contraction in that a twitch tends to be repetitive, unwanted, lacking obvious cause, and is not considered part of the normal operation of the body.

Causes
Among the chief causes of a twitch are:


 * Pinched nerve or other nerve injury.
 * Stimulant abuse.
 * Parkinson's disease.
 * Epilepsy.
 * Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
 * Benign fasciculation syndrome.
 * Stress.

Twitching can also develop as a habitual behavior, being a sign of no specific disorder.

Because twitching may be a sign of serious illness, it is highly recommended that individuals experiencing prolonged twitching seek medical attention.