Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)
Periodic Leg Movement (PLM) are twitches in legs that may happen in one or both legs. They may be associated with brain EEG arousals or with no arousals. They may be completely asymptomatic or may be associated with poor sleep quality and daytime tiredness.
The cause for Periodic Leg Movement is not clear. Majority of people with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) may have PLM after they fall asleep. Lower back pain may be one of the causes of this condition. A group of anti-depressant medications called Selective Serotinin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) may have such a consequence. PLM could be a phenomenon associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which may resolve with treatment of OSA.
The standard of care is to treat sleep apnea in a person who has both PLM and OSA.
In asymptomatic people, PLM may not require treatment. Treatment of PLM may work in people whose sleep is disturbed due to this problem.