Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a sleep movement disorder affecting adults and children alike, typically manifested by repetitive arm and leg flexing, twitching or jerking movements at nighttime.
Sleep-related movement disorders generally involve upper limbs; however, legs can also be affected. Movements of this kind often appear as sudden jerks or twitches which can be highly uncomfortable – not to mention making sleeping difficult both during the night and in subsequent morning wakeups.
People suffering from periodic limb movement disorder or nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS) experience repetitive, brief leg movements every 20-40 seconds that occur at random or can occur all night. Depending on severity, symptoms such as restless leg syndrome may also manifest themselves during these episodes of sleep disruption.
Sleep-related movement disorders include restless legs syndrome, sleep bruxism and excessive fragmentary myoclonus – rhythmic movements can disrupt your restful slumber and leave you feeling exhausted for days on end.
Restless legs syndrome is a disorder in which an involuntary urge to move your limbs is felt during restful lying down positions, often to great discomfort. Many individuals living with this disorder report disturbed sleep as a result. Patients living with RLS often report experiencing itching or throbbing sensations in their legs that usually lessen with movement but can become painful over time if left untreated.
People suffering from PLMD often find it hard to sleep during the day and find it difficult to focus on being productive or concentrate during their activities. Their symptoms may become even worse during pregnancy or taking certain medications.
PLMD is commonly linked with low iron levels and can be treated by taking an iron pill supplement or getting regular blood tests. A combination of medications may also help.
However, PLMD is often misdiagnosed, necessitating close coordination among interprofessional healthcare teams for accurate diagnosis. A polysomnogram (sleep study) is the go-to test to detect this condition.
Polysomnography must confirm 15 episodes per hour to diagnose PLMD; children may require less frequent episodes. Other sleep disorders, including narcolepsy or RLS may also co-occur with PLMD so it must first be excluded before making a definitive diagnosis.
Doctors can prescribe drugs or other treatments for RLS symptoms. Additionally, over-the-counter antihistamines and sleep aids may provide additional relief.
Other sleep-related movement disorders can include twitching, hypnic jerks, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder. These movements occur as part of REM sleep – which is when most dreaming takes place – but severe cases could prove painful or even harmful to health if they happen frequently and at an alarming rate. Talk to your doctor or The Air Station about sleep disorder conditions.
