![The movements often occur as jerking or flexing movements of the legs.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/what-are-the-5-types-of-sleep-disorders.jpg?output-quality=75)
Periodic limb movement disorder or PLMD is a type of sleep disorder that causes a person’s limbs, legs, and sometimes arms to move repetitively and uncontrollably during sleep. The exact cause of PLMD is unknown. Researchers believe that the disorder may be related to low iron levels in the body or nerve conditions due to kidney diseases or diabetes. Certain conditions can increase a person’s risk to develop PLMD, which include:
- Restless leg syndrome (a condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs)
- Side effects of certain medications such as some antidepressants, some anti-nausea drugs, lithium, and certain antiseizure medications
- Caffeine overconsumption
- Narcolepsy (a type of sleep disorder that causes an uncontrollable urge to sleep)
- Sleep-related eating disorder
- Disorders of brain development such as attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder or ADHD (a long-term neurodevelopmental condition causing trouble in paying attention, inability to control impulsive behaviors, or being overly active)
- Spinal cord injury or spinal cord tumor
What is periodic limb muscle disorder?
Periodic limb movement disorder or PLMD is a medical condition in which a person’s limbs, legs, and sometimes arms move repetitively and uncontrollably during sleep. Most of the people who suffer from this condition are unaware of these abnormal movements occurring during sleep. The movements often occur as jerking or flexing movements of the legs. The episodes of PLMD may last for several minutes to a few hours during which the uncontrollable movements keep occurring at intervals of 20-40 seconds. The movements disturb a person’s sleep and may lead to a lack of sleep or daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Recent studies have revealed that PLMD may be linked to subtle breathing problems. People with PLMD may also have health conditions such as anemia (low hemoglobin or RBCs in the blood), diabetes, kidney diseases, and other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy.
What are the signs of periodic limb movement disorder?
The signs and symptoms of periodic limb movement disorder may include:
- Insomnia (trouble in falling or staying asleep)
- Day-time sleepiness
- Uncontrolled and repetitive leg movements in one or both the legs (because the movement occurs during sleep, the person may be unaware. The movements, however, may disturb the bed partner’s sleep.)
- Multiple awakenings from sleep (often revealed on electroencephalogram or brain wave analysis)
- Behavioral changes such as irritability, impulsiveness, or hyperactivity
- Poor performance at school or work
There may be symptoms of restless leg syndrome (an irresistible urge to move the legs due to unpleasant sensations).
What is the treatment for periodic limb movement disorder?
The treatment for periodic limb movement disorder consists of:
- Avoiding caffeine and caffeinated products such as coffee, tea, chocolates, cola, energy drinks, and certain medications (Excedrin®)
- Iron and folic acid supplements in people with anemia or low iron/folic acid levels
- Relaxation exercises/yoga/meditation
- Calming massages
- Medications such as:
- Dopamine agonists such as ropinirole or pramipexole
- Benzodiazepines
- A dopamine precursor called levodopa
- Certain anticonvulsant (antiseizure) drugs such as gabapentin
- Regular exercise which can include around two and a half hours of moderate activity per week
- Balanced diet
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (counseling)
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/human-body/human-body-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See Answerhttps://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ue5312spec
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/periodic-limb-movements-disorder
Top What Causes Periodic Limb Movement Disorder? Related Articles
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Is It My Period or Implantation Bleeding?
What is the difference between implantation bleeding and your period? What are the differences between early pregnancy and period symptoms?Myobloc (botulinum toxin)
Myobloc (botulinum toxin) is a prescription medicine used in adults that is injected into muscles and used to treat the abnormal head position and neck pain that happens with cervical dystonia (CD), and into glands that make saliva and is used to treat long-lasting (chronic) drooling (sialorrhea). Serious side effects of Myobloc include allergic reactions with symptoms such as itching, rash, redness, swelling, wheezing, trouble breathing, or dizziness or feeling faint.OA & Your Joints
Dealing with joint pain and arthritis? Learn why weight matters--and why NOT to stretch before exercise. See these solutions for joint pain and tips to protect your joints from damage.Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep disorder characterized by rhythmic movements of the limbs during sleep. The movements typically involve the legs, but upper extremity movements may also occur. Movements occur periodically throughout the night and can fluctuate in severity from one night to the next. They tend to cluster in episodes that last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. These movements are very different from the normal spasms, called hypnic myoclonia, that we often experience initially while trying to fall asleep.safinamide
Safinamide is a medication used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a movement disorder caused by the degeneration of nerve cells (neurons) in dopamine-producing regions of the brain. Common side effects of safinamide include uncontrolled involuntary muscle movements and spasms (dyskinesia), falling, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, indigestion (dyspepsia), increase in liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), new onset or exacerbation of high blood pressure (hypertension), drop in blood pressure when standing from sitting or lying down (orthostatic hypotension), cough, impulse control disorder, sudden onset of sleep, headache, and others.selegiline
Selegiline is a medication used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, a movement disorder caused by the degeneration of nerve cells (neurons) in certain regions of the brain. Common side effects of selegiline include nausea, vomiting, swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), indigestion (dyspepsia), abdominal pain, gas (flatulence), constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth (xerostomia), dizziness, headache, involuntary uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), tremor, impairment of coordination/balance/speech (ataxia), suicidal thoughts and behavior, insomnia, hallucination, psychotic-like behavior, and others.Treatment for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep disorder characterized by jerky movements of the legs when a person is asleep. It is a sleep disorder that disrupts sleep and leads to daytime drowsiness.