Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a condition characterised by unusual, painful sensations in the calves and/or thighs (often described as ‘burning’ or pins and needles) which result in an involuntary urge to move the legs.
When diagnosing RLS clinically, a set criteria laid out by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) is often used, plus the patient’s medical history. As well as the uncontrollable desire to move the legs (or occasionally other parts of the body, too), the IRLSSG’s key criteria to diagnose RLS include:
- the need to move and the unpleasant sensations are present or worsen only during periods of rest or inactivity
- the need to move and the unpleasant sensations are generally worse or occur only during the evening and night
- the need to move and the unpleasant sensations are partially or totally relieved by movement, for example stretching or walking.
People with RLS therefore find the condition is predominant during quiet wakefulness, for example when watching television or when drifting off to sleep, or when already asleep, which causes sleep disturbance.
Whilst RLS is a fairly common neurological movement disorder, the exact cause is unclear, but tends to be more frequent with increasing age.
