Legs Shaking After Sex? Here’s What That Means

Strange things happen to your body after sex

Let’s start off with something everyone knows but almost nobody says out loud: strange things happen to your body after sex. Understandably, most people focus on the act itself, so it’s easy to forget how weird things can get when you’re done fooling around. In fact, you could argue that leg shaking is the most normal thing that happens after intercourse!

Some, for example, cry after sex even when they aren’t sad. That’s because the lovemaking helped stir up emotions deep inside them. Other people sneeze or get headaches, and some poor souls develop nasty migraines. And nothing will ruin your afterglow quicker than that!

How the movies lied to us

So, we all know that weird stuff happens to our bodies after having sex. Why, then, is it such a surprise? As mentioned before, the fact that it’s impolite to talk about sex is one of the factors. It’s hard to know what is and isn’t normal if you never talk about the matter! The other big factor is one you might not suspect: the movies.

For better or for worse, most of our early knowledge of sex comes from films. However, movies typically only feature the naughty act itself and/or the super-romantic afterglow. That means you never see your favorite celebs dealing with shaking legs after sex, but that doesn’t mean it never happens in real life.

Why does it happen, though? Don’t worry: we’ve got the surprising answer!

The relaxation of tensed muscles

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re worried about your own legs shaking after sex. You might even think it’s a sign that something is wrong with your body. Fortunately, that’s not the case. The simple reason that your legs shake after intercourse is that the tense muscles in your body are now very relaxed.

Basically, sex is a form of exercise, and doing it will clench your muscles very tightly. After you orgasm, all of that tension is released. This leads to myotonia, which is the fancy term for leg shaking after sex. Most people experience this leg shaking while they are still in bed and experiencing some post-coital bliss.

However, vigorous sex or positions that require the use of your leg muscles may still leave you a bit wobbly on your feet when you get off the bed, so be sure to be careful when you sit up to go to the bathroom!

Does leg shaking after sex happen more with men or women?

Leg shaking after sex is relatively common. However, it’s more common for some groups than others. Specifically, this phenomenon seems to happen to women more often than it happens to men. It’s important to remember, though, that it could happen to anyone after they have an orgasm.

Remember, as cliche as it sounds, there’s a first time for everything. Even if your legs have never shaken after sex, it could happen as soon as your next climax. Usually, this just means you need to give it time to pass before you try walking on your feet. If you’re feeling proactive, though, then you should know there are some proven ways to prevent the leg shaking from happening in the first place.

Can you prevent your legs from shaking after sex?

By definition, sex tenses all of your muscles. And with any luck, you’re experiencing orgasm when you have sex. If myotonia is caused by the release of muscle tension, then why doesn’t everyone experience the leg shaking after they get busy?

The short answer is hydration. The more hydration a muscle has, the less painful any contractions will be. Therefore, drinking copious amounts of water per day can help minimize or even eliminate leg shaking. As an added bonus, the extra hydration is great for your skin and your overall health.

Other solutions include avoiding sexual positions that require extensive use of your legs. But perhaps the best way to avoid the leg shaking is to do your stretches before having sex. As with stretching before a long run, this can help prepare your body for what’s to come.