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What Causes Involuntary Movement Of The Legs During Sleep?
Question: why are my legs jumping at night while I'm sleeping?
email : YYYY@YYYY
email : YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Possible periodic limb movement disorder
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
What you describe as leg jumping should correspond to what is called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), characterized precisely by repeated movement of one or both legs during sleep. It is common and its frequency increases with age, over the age of 65 it is estimated to be present in up to 50% of the population (of course not as disruptive to sleep in all of them).
The precise cause is not well known. In some people it is related to iron deficiency so some blood tests for that are done, however in many patients no cause may be found. May also be triggered or exacerbated by caffeine, some medications, spinal cord injury etc. It can coexist with other sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome or narcolepsy.
The diagnosis is done through polysomnography, an overnight test in a lab where electrodes are placed over your scalp to record brain activity during sleep.
Regarding management first step is address influencing factors such as caffeine, chocolate intake in the evening, reducing stress, treating iron deficiency if found on iron tests. Whether to use medication depends on how disruptive it is to your sleep. If it affects sleep quality medication may be dopamine agonists like pramipexole, anticonvulsants like gabapentin or a benzodiazepine like clonazepam.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Possible periodic limb movement disorder
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
What you describe as leg jumping should correspond to what is called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), characterized precisely by repeated movement of one or both legs during sleep. It is common and its frequency increases with age, over the age of 65 it is estimated to be present in up to 50% of the population (of course not as disruptive to sleep in all of them).
The precise cause is not well known. In some people it is related to iron deficiency so some blood tests for that are done, however in many patients no cause may be found. May also be triggered or exacerbated by caffeine, some medications, spinal cord injury etc. It can coexist with other sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome or narcolepsy.
The diagnosis is done through polysomnography, an overnight test in a lab where electrodes are placed over your scalp to record brain activity during sleep.
Regarding management first step is address influencing factors such as caffeine, chocolate intake in the evening, reducing stress, treating iron deficiency if found on iron tests. Whether to use medication depends on how disruptive it is to your sleep. If it affects sleep quality medication may be dopamine agonists like pramipexole, anticonvulsants like gabapentin or a benzodiazepine like clonazepam.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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