convulse (con|vulse)

verb

• 1 [no object] suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs: she convulsed, collapsing to the floor with the pain
• [with object] (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements: she rocked backwards and forwards, convulsed with helpless mirth

• 2 [with object] throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval: a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany