How is PLMD diagnosed?
PLMD is diagnosed with a medical history, often including a sleep history from a bed partner, and a physical exam. A sleep study is usually required to detect the movements. A sleep study also can identify other conditions that may be causing symptoms, such as sleep apnea or other subtle breathing problems that may be causing movements.
Many questions remain about the nature of periodic leg movements and PLMD. Some researchers consider the movements to be normal. At least a few movements may occur during sleep in people who do not have restless legs syndrome, especially in the elderly.
How is PLMD treated?
Managing symptoms of PLMD generally includes:
PLMD is diagnosed with a medical history, often including a sleep history from a bed partner, and a physical exam. A sleep study is usually required to detect the movements. A sleep study also can identify other conditions that may be causing symptoms, such as sleep apnea or other subtle breathing problems that may be causing movements.
Many questions remain about the nature of periodic leg movements and PLMD. Some researchers consider the movements to be normal. At least a few movements may occur during sleep in people who do not have restless legs syndrome, especially in the elderly.
How is PLMD treated?
Managing symptoms of PLMD generally includes:
- Home treatment, such as relaxation exercises or massage.
- Medications, including dopamine agonists such as ropinirole or pramipexole, benzodiazepines, or the dopamine precursor called levodopa. These medicines, some of which are also used to treat Parkinson's disease, are used only when symptoms are frequent and severe or regularly disrupt sleep.
Last Updated: April 4, 2007 More than 80% of RLS patients also experience periodic limb movements, and they are occasionally treated together: Some of the remedies that ease the strange urges you have while you're awake also sometimes calm the movements you experience during sleep.
Many people without RLS still experience PLMD, however, and risk increases with age. A mild case may never affect you, while more serious symptoms may frequently wake you—or your bed partner, or contribute to poor sleep and daytime sleepiness.
