Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological sensorimotor disorder: the patient experiences an urge to move the legs, usually with unpleasant sensations, and movement provides temporary relief. The sensations may be described as crawling, pulling, aching, tingling, or an internal discomfort that is difficult to explain. The word “restless” refers to the sensory urge and repeated movement, not simply to anxiety or fidgeting. The mechanism is associated with reduced iron availability within the brain and strong genetic susceptibility. These factors affect central sensory-motor signalling and help explain why symptoms arise during quiet wakefulness, intensify later in the day, and improve briefly when the patient walks or moves the legs. The disorder can therefore produce substantial sleep loss without causing tissue destruction, paralysis, or reduced level of consciousness. Periodic limb movements of sleep may accompany RLS. These are repetitive leg movements during sleep that the patient may not recognize but a bed partner may observe. They can further fragment sleep and contribute to daytime fatigue. RLS may occur as an inherited condition or in association with another health problem, including iron...