Archive for the 'PLMD' Category

Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) is a condition during sleep in which the limbs twitch or jerk every 20 to 40 seconds.

Each movement lasts between half a second to five seconds and can involve the big toe, ankle, knee, and sometimes the hip.

PLMS was previously called as nocturnal myoclonus.

Some of the people who are suffering from PLMS also experience jerking of the arms.

Most jerking movements cause a brief awakening; as if every time you fell asleep, someone shook you just enough to wake you again.

PLMS is not to be confused with hypnic jerks, which only occur at sleep onset and are considered normal.

Causes of PLMS

The cause of periodic limb movements in sleep is unknown. Some doctors have suggested that the movements are caused by reactions in the brain, whereas others suggest it might originate in the spinal cord or may be associated with circulatory problems.

It is not unusual to also find PLMS in patients who have sleep disordered breathing or narcolepsy. Periodic limb movements in sleep has also been linked diseases such as

• Diabetes
• Renal disease