Why am I jumping in my sleep

"You are describing a condition known as sleep myoclonus. This fancy term refers to the involuntary contraction and relaxation of muscles, which is what is causing the jumping," explains Brent Benton, MD, who practices family medicine at Baptist Medical Associates.

In its simplest form, myoclonus consists of a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. A hiccup is an example of this type of myoclonus. Other familiar examples of myoclonus are the jerks or "sleep starts" that some people experience while drifting off to sleep.

Most people with this condition do not realize they are twitching. The movements occur early in the sleep cycle and may be triggered by external stimuli such as loud noises or movements your spouse makes in the bed. The causes of myoclonus are not known, but medication may be prescribed in severe cases.

While this condition is completely harmless, it can be associated with other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea. If your spouse notices that you periodically stop breathing during the night, or if you often wake up without feeling refreshed from your sleep, you may have sleep apnea and you’ll need to seek help for it. An expert in sleep disorders can help determine a specific diagnosis. Neurologists see many patients with restless legs syndrome; the complaints they hear include twitching, but also a sense of tightness or burning, an inability to keep the legs still, and a constant desire to get up and move about.

"Sleep myoclonus is estimated to occur in approximately 4 percent of adults, but is more common in the elderly, especially females, with up to 11 percent experiencing symptoms," Dr. Benton adds.