Do your legs keep you awake or move while you sleep?

If the answer is yes, then you're not alone. Periodic leg movements of sleep and restless legs syndrome affect up to 10 percent of the population.

Periodic Leg Movements of Sleep is characterized by repetitive, rhythmic movements of the legs while you sleep. The movements vary in the intensity from a small flexing movement to large jerks or kicks. The condition of your bed sheets or reports from your bed partner are normally good indicators of this activity.

The leg movements cause brief awakening in your brain activity. Periodic leg movements of sleep may cause you to be tired or fatigued during the day or unable to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Restless Legs Syndrome is an aching, drawing, or crawling feeling in your legs which occurs during periods of rest or inactivity. Moving or flexing of the legs seem to be the only way to get rid of these feelings. Restless legs syndrome causes many patients to sit up on the side of their bed and rock their legs off the side or get up and walk around during periods in which they want to sleep. In addition to these consequences, the majority of patients with restless legs syndrome will have periodic leg movements of sleep when they are finally able to fall asleep. 

The result is many nights of frustration in trying to fall asleep and fatigue or sleepiness during the day.

Fortunately, effective therapy is available for restless legs syndrome and periodic leg movements of sleep. Several medications have been extremely helpful in controlling leg symptoms.

Leg movements during sleep may also be caused by sleep apnea which is characterized by loud and irregular snoring, pauses in breathing, and restless sleep. A person with sleep apnea will normally move their legs or arms along with a loud snore when they begin to breath again after a period in which they had stopped breathing. 

The Sleep Disorders Center of Oklahoma is committed to the diagnosis and effective treatment of sleep disorders such as periodic leg movements of sleep, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea.

To learn more about Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) click here.