My husband says that I frequently sleep on my back with my knees bent up, and I'll lose muscle control and one of the knees will flop to the side. I then regain control and move it back towards the other knee. He says I will continue doing this until he literally pushes my legs down or nudges me to move to a side-sleeping position. I do not recall doing this, and have searched the internet for reasons, but to no avail. Any insight on this would be helpful, as this habit of mine disturbs his sleep.
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9/17/08 4:16pm
Hi Blar,
How interesting! I'm not sure why you should be disturbed by it however? So long as you are getting a good sleep I don't really see the problem. The fact that your husband is disturbed by it might be more of an issue?
I wonder if there is something very logical about why you sleep this way? Have you ever, for example, had a back problem or some other physical problem involving your stomach? Maybe you simply like sleeping in a fetal position (it's the most common) but this commences whilst you are lying on your back? Might it be the shape of your bed (mattress)? Is hubby heavy so you are pulled towards the middle of the bed?
I know this is all so much idle speculation but I guess I'm trying to suggest there could be a very practical reason for your sleeping position. Even if there isn't does it really matter?
I suppose if your husband is regularly having his sleep disturbed it suggests something of a problem which may require different solutions. You might like to think about ways of stopping you sleeping on your back (a bit like people who snore). Positioning of pillows in the middle of the bed can help. Other people suggest something hard sewn to the back of your night clothes. Once you get out of the routine of sleeping on your back you can dispense with the paraphenalia!
Just a few thoughts.
Good luck
11/14/08 12:11pm
I just thought I'd add to this, that both my 13 year old daughter, and my x-husband (her father) also sleep on their backs with their knees bent, it doesn't seem to be all the time, only occasionally, but I find it strange that it seems to be heriditary. Both are the same birth sign, Aquarius. Not sure, I'm at a loss, but I'm worried that when she gets older she'l lhave the same issues you're having. I don't know.
11/24/08 2:39pm
I do the exact same thing with my knees as well as place both my arms above my head. I'd also like to add that I am also an aquarius...pertaining to a comment. I have yet to find any further info on why I do this, as it doesn't seem matter the mattress or pillows I use to prevent it.
11/13/09 12:42am
And I thought I was the only one with such a peculiar sleeping habit. I do the same with my knees, holding them up high and constantly trying to regain balance when they drop. Supposedly I also hold have my palm on my head and erect my elbow and balance my elbow on top of my head. I am a Caprocorn though, and I don't see how this can mean anything, but nevertheless any information would be great so I can explain to my partner why I do these peculiar things at night.. lol
12/ 9/08 8:14am
My girlfriend is getting the same with her knees. but hers are aching in the morning after sleep all night like it.
Is their any reason to be concerned?
2/ 9/09 8:54pm
I have also been told that I sometimes sleep on my back with my knees bent up. Not sure how long this has been happening but at least a few years now. I was born in July of 79. Turning 30 this year- not sure if age makes a difference. After I was told, I think I noticed it once but not sure if I was dreaming it.
2/18/09 2:42pm
Wow, what a coincidence, I do the same thing (I think without my leg dropping). I was also born in July and I'm turning 30 this year as well !!
It doesn't bother me at all, I actually think it's probably good for keeping a straight back.
6/ 6/10 3:26pm
oh wow, I do the same thing now.
You see for many years but only once a year I used to sleep like I was sitting on a chair only on my back, I even had my hands across my chest like I was sitting politely in a meeting.
However it has been for 2,3 weeks now that I bend my knees and they fall and I regain balance and it becomes so annoying for my husband that he does the same thing as all of your significant others are doing, pushing my legs down so that my knees are not bent anymore.
I don't know why this is, I would like to know though. Please let me know if you have found any info about this.
thanks,
s.s.
4/16/09 12:07pm
Very strange! This is EXACTLY what my boyfriend does... as they slip down/to the side he jolts them back... eventually I push them down for him or he turns over! He's 28 and born in April so I don't see a connection.... very funny though!
4/ 5/12 2:32pm
I've just woken up from yet another sleep with my knees in the air! I am turning 30 on April the 23rd & have been doing this for about the last 6 months I think...I don't find it very comfortable, my mrs always pushes my legs down or rolls me over but I always end up the same! I often wake up & go "dammit" & put them down as it is uncomfortable but end up the same after I fall asleep!
4/27/09 5:54am
My boyfriend does the same thing - i think its actually quite funny - he's 32 and a taurus - so i'm not sure there's a connection there!
2/24/10 4:33pm
my boyfriend does the exact same thing, but also will put one hand to his head with his elbow in the air, like he is posing for a picture or will just raise one arm in the air and hold it there. Everytime he jolts his legs back up or throws his arms around he wakes me up! This is becoming a serious problem as I cannot get almost any sleep when we sleep in the same bed.......and I end up having to send him to a different room to sleep...
7/24/09 7:15am
I also do this. I am 39 years old. I have been doing this for about the last year and it is very discomforting. One of my knees always drops to the side, without me knowing it, obviously as I am sleeping. However, when I wake up, I can hardly move as my lower back and hip are in tremendous pain from being in that position with a leg hanging over like that. I try to start off sleeping on my side, but every night I end up on my back with knees bent up.
9/10/09 6:03pm
I have just been looking on the internet for info on this sleeping habit. Not much luck. My boyfriend has told me that I have been doing it for a while and it disturbs his sleep. Apparently I bend my knees up and then slowly let them drop so that I am laying flat & I do this repeatedly throughout the night. I have been suffering from leg pain recently and also horrible leg cramps in the night and wondered if this habit was related.
Haha...I am a Capricorn by the way, so it looks unlikely that starsign is a connection ;-)
9/15/09 11:18pm
I am a 25 yr old female who does this pretty much every night, much to the dismay of my boyfriend. I always start on my stomach, my preferred position, than somewhere mid sleep I end up on my back again with knees up. My legs also end up falling to the side, pulling the sheets with them, and off my boyfriend. He usually ends up laying down my legs. I wish I knew why this happened.
When I was younger I think I had seen that my dad slept with his knees up as well, and one of my cousins on my dad's side also does, so maybe it is hereditary?... hope that helps.
3/26/11 9:14pm
you see this all the time when camping, you raise your leags over your body to keep blood in your cheast, you dont do it on purpus. ive done it durring 2 things takeing place, eather i was really sick or was really cold. its normal
12/ 3/11 8:42pm
Wow I am about to turn thirty and I have just started doing this. It does not seem to disturb my sleep but it worries me because I fear I'm doing it out if necessity such as poor circulation.
9/23/09 1:49am
I'm up late researching this, as my husband does this as well. He is 34 (and a Capricorn :) Sometimes it's one leg, sometimes it's both. I usually use my foot to slide his legs back down. But he also lifts his arms into the air - sometimes just holding them there, but usually he puts his hand on his forehead, elbow in the air. Sometimes it's just arms, or legs, or both. I worry that this disturbes his sleep, as he does have a sleep disorder - but I don't think it's related to this behavior. It's more disturbing for me, as when his arms fall, they often fall on me. I don't recall him doing this years ago though, and am wondering if it could be stress-related? Has anyone noticed if this behavior occurs when you are stressed?
2/26/11 1:35am
I am similiar to your husband. I sleep on my back, but usually find myself with one leg held straiht up to the ceiling from the hip and or one arm. Would to love to know why. I'm tired all the time and have done it for years. Iyt not painful, but usual comfortable. What do they called this condition?
10/13/09 3:09am
i hold my hands on my stomach and only have one leg up in the air. i fall asleep on my stomach. i seem to toss and turn for awhile before i end up on my back. i have been diagnosed with a couple sleep disorders- insomnia- but is not too bad now and sleep delayed phase syndrome. capricorn :-)
1/20/11 1:04am
I straighten my 10 year old daughter's legs every night when I check on her. I always have thought it would just be bad circulation for her legs and not fully rested sleep. I just actually came out the room and thought I would google it...as I basically do everything to start investigating.......
The most startling thing is the coincidence that she too, is an Aquarian. VERY interesting to me, after seeing the comments.....
3/ 4/11 11:43pm
I have the same habit, I can't sleep without my knees bent up and pertaining to an earlier comment I also like my arms above my head. The most interesting tidbit of information I've found out about this was from my yoga instructor (I asked b/c I also like to bend my knees up in yoga when we are supposed to be lying with legs down) and she said it's either a habit or eases back pain/discomfort. So if any of you have lower back pain that may be it, otherwise I think it is likely just a strange habit possibly learned from an early age.
6/ 4/11 9:12pm
It may be Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. This is a link to Web MD. Hope this helps someone. 
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/periodic-limb-movement-disorder
11/ 3/11 4:26am
I do the exact same thing(Aries) with my knees and hands my bf has told me I'm 21 and since I've been aware of this my back and knees throb
12/31/11 8:57am
I was diagnosed with periodic limb movement disorder earlier this year after my husband discovered that my legs tremor during the night. I had a sleep study done to confirm the diagnosis. Sometime later this year, my husband noticed that I frequently sleep on my back with my knees bent. I mainly notice this, because I often wake up in this position and my legs ache. I have wondered if this is related to PLMD.
12/ 6/11 8:21pm
Count me in as another one who sleeps on their back with their knees up!
I was also unaware of this until I got married, and my husband informed me. While he thought it was weird at first, he doesn't mind it and lets me stay like that, when I get in that position.
I will agree with what someone else said - my legs and butt ache the mornings after I sleep like this. But I figure it's like working out in my sleep!
Also, I'm a scorpio, so definitely nothing to do with your sign ;)
1/11/12 11:10pm
35/M/Gemini LOL... I thought for sure I wouldn't find ANYTHING online about this. My wife tells me I do this all night. My legs, butt and back feel like I ran a marathon in the morning and I'm in pain all day and I'm like a zombie. I can't imagine one could be fully asleep while doing this.
I do suffer from lower back pain. I may be pulling my legs up to comfort the back pain. Whatever this is, it needs to be corrected. It is like torture, and the couple of docs I've told haven't had much response.
2/11/12 8:10am
It is a subconscious sexual need. Try getting laid before bedtime and you will sleep like a baby...and so will hubby.
3/ 9/12 11:25pm
Here is a video of someone doing the pointing up elbow thing during their sleep:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pfaWD47fCA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It's funny!
3/24/12 8:41pm
This is very strange. I'm 17 and a Taurus and I lucid dream which means I'm awake but still dreaming which is how I know I do this. I, too, lie on my back with my legs bent with my feet laying flat, and I also do the arm thing (resting my hand on my head with my elbow elevated in the air) but I find it very relaxing when I do this.I am in also no pain when I wake up and I did read in comments before that it could be due to back ache, although I don't have back ache, I do suffer from bad hips. I done this last night and was curious about it as I've been aware that I have done this once before, so decided to Google it but couldn't find any information about it apart from this forum. I'm not too sure if my legs manage to fall through the night in order for me to put the back into the upright position as no one has ever told me that I do before. There should be more information about this on the Internet as I want to know more about it!
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By Blar— Last Modified: 05/26/12, First Published: 09/17/08
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I have been told I do that same thing.. My knees bent - and one will fall to the side, then I put it right back up - I don't even realize I'm doing it. I also lay on my side and put my hand on my head w/my elbow in the air - I find this to be comfortable... I have caught myself doing this but didn't think anything of it - until my bf told me I do it (and he says he will push it down) He thinks it's funny and so do I -- I have no problem with it & he doesn't seem to care that I do it.. We laugh about it.. I sleep just fine, but I think I'm a bit weird.. haha