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Summary

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes a powerful urge to move your legs. Your legs become uncomfortable when you are lying down or sitting. Some people describe it as a creeping, crawling, tingling, or burning sensation. Moving makes your legs feel better, but not for long. RLS can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep.

In most cases, there is no known cause for RLS. In other cases, RLS is caused by a disease or condition, such as anemia or pregnancy. Some medicines can also cause temporary RLS. Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol may make symptoms worse.

Lifestyle changes, such as regular sleep habits, relaxation techniques, and moderate exercise during the day can help. If those don't work, medicines may reduce the symptoms of RLS.

Most people with RLS also have a condition called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). PLMD is a condition in which a person's legs twitch or jerk uncontrollably, usually during sleep. PLMD and RLS can also affect the arms.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Start Here

• Disruptive Leg Movement? Managing Restless Legs Syndrome (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
• Restless Leg Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Restless Legs Syndrome (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)
• Restless Legs Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Restless Legs Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Sleep Study (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Restless legs syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Restless Legs Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The Effect of Superficial Heat-Cold Application on the Sleep Quality of...
• Article: The psychometric properties of the Pearlin Mastery Scale in persons living...
• Article: Cost-effectiveness of TOMAC therapy for medication-refractory restless legs syndrome: an updated...
• Restless Legs -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Find a Sleep Center (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish

Children

• Sleep Study (Polysomnogram) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Restless legs syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish