Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs. Also known asWillis-Ekbomdisease, RLS symptoms typically arise in the evenings or during the night, when you’re seated or lying down, and it often affects sleep. Moving the legs or walking provide temporary relief.
RLS affects 7% to 10% of people and is more common and severe among people over age 45 and those assigned female at birth.
This article provides an overview of restless legs syndrome, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
eugenekeebler / Getty Images
Types of Restless Legs Syndrome
RLS is categorized based on cause and age of onset.
By cause:
By age of onset:
Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms
RLS causes an uncomfortable sensation in the legs, leading to an overwhelming urge to move them. People with RLS describe this feeling as:
Two or more episodes of RLS a week is considered severe and includes other characteristics, such as:
Complications
Living with RLS can cause several other complications due to its impact on sleep, which includes:
Increased Severity Over TimePeople may experience periods of no symptoms in the early stages of RLS, but RLS tends to recur. This disorder is also progressive, which means symptoms become more severe over time.
Increased Severity Over Time
People may experience periods of no symptoms in the early stages of RLS, but RLS tends to recur. This disorder is also progressive, which means symptoms become more severe over time.
This condition occurs in 80% of people with restless legs syndrome.However, most people with periodic limb movement disorder don’t experience RLS.
What Causes Restless Legs Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome is believed to arise due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors affecting how the brain communicates with the muscles that control movement. However, many of the factors involved are still unknown.
The causes also vary for primary RLS, which often runs in families and has some identified genetic risk factors, and secondary RLS that can be linked to other disease processes.
While the exact cause varies, the following play a role in the development of RLS:
Genetics
A family history of RLS dramatically increases your chances of developing primary and secondary forms, indicating a strong genetic component.Mutations in several genes have been linked to higher risk. These reduce iron metabolism and dopamine production, which can lead to symptoms.
Primary RLS is sometimes called genetic RLS. Up to 63% of people with RLS have a first-degree relative with RLS, meaning a parent, sibling, or child. This association is especially common in people with early-onset RLS.
Research is still identifying the genes associated with primary RLS. These genes generally are involved in iron storage and regulating iron in the brain.But genes involved in developing the limbs have also been associated with RLS.
The inheritance pattern of RLS is usually autosomal dominant.This means only one copy of the faulty gene (from one parent) is needed to produce the condition in a child. Also, since the genes are not on the X or Y chromosome, children of any sex have an equal risk of getting the gene from one parent.
Low Iron in the Brain
Though the exact relationship is unknown, RLS is associated with insufficient iron levels in the brain.This can affect many processes, including oxygen transportation, cellular communication, and the metabolism ofneurotransmitters(the brain’s chemical messengers).
As a result, there’s less dopamine production and fewer receptors, which can affect motor (movement) function.
Havingiron deficiencyor a condition that alters your iron status (such as pregnancy or kidney failure) increases your risk of developing RLS.However, you don’t have to have a low level of iron stored in your tissues to have low iron in the brain. There are various processes at work resulting in low iron in the brain in RLS.
Low Dopamine Production
Low dopamine levels may be at the root of RLS symptoms. Dysfunction among dopamine-producing cells in the midbrain and thalamus region (a part of thelimbic systemthat regulates emotions and survival responses) may contribute to RLS.This affects the body’s pain system, leading to the discomfort associated with RLS.
The risk of developing RLS is higher among certain groups and those living with certain diseases. These risk factors include:
How Is RLS Diagnosed?
There is no specific test for restless legs syndrome, so diagnosis is based on medical and family histories, current health status, and symptoms.
Questionnaires andneurological testsmay be performed to look for signs of the condition, such as the following:
In addition, you may be given blood tests to catch causes of secondary RLS or rule out other conditions. These can identify health factors that lead to the condition, including kidney failure, low iron levels, and pregnancy.
While RLS doesn’t have a cure, some treatments can help. A provider will tailor therapies specific to individual needs, including a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Lifestyle modifications include:
For symptom relief, you may try:
If you have secondary RLS, therapies focus on managing the underlying cause. In primary cases, or if symptoms persist in secondary cases, several classes of drugs may help ease symptoms, such as:
If you have low levels of iron alongside RLS, you may also need to take iron supplements.
A small study found supplementing with vitamin B6 andmagnesiumhelped people with RLS improve their sleep quality and reduce the severity of their symptoms.
RLS doesn’t have a cure and is a lifelong condition. It typically worsens over time and can significantly impact mental health. As many as 39% of people with RLS experience psychiatric comorbidities, especially depression and anxiety.
Medications and therapeutic approaches can help ease the impact of the symptoms, increase periods of remission, and improve sleep. Seeking out timely therapy and diagnosis is critical for managing this condition.
Living With Restless Legs Syndrome
Since RLS can significantly affect the quality of life, people with RLS may need extra support. Strategies to help cope with the impact of this disorder include:
Summary
Therapies for this incurable and chronic disorder include lifestyle changes and taking certain medications.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Restless legs syndrome.Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, et al.Restless legs syndrome: from pathophysiology to clinical diagnosis and management.Front Aging Neurosci. 2017;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171MedlinePlus.Restless legs syndrome.Didato G, Di Giacomo R, Rosa GJ, Dominese A, de Curtis M, and Lanteri P.Restless legs syndrome across the lifespan: Symptoms, pathophysiology, management and daily life impact of the different patterns of disease presentation.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(10)3658. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103658National Organization of Rare Diseases.Restless legs syndrome: standard therapies.Jadidi A, Rezaei Ashtiani A, Khanmohamadi Hezaveh A, Aghaepour SM.Therapeutic effects of magnesium and vitamin B6 in alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;23(1):1. doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03814-8Kallweit U, Werth E, Seiz A, et al.Psychiatric comorbidities in restless legs syndrome.JNP. 2016;28(3):239-242. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.15030055
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Restless legs syndrome.Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, et al.Restless legs syndrome: from pathophysiology to clinical diagnosis and management.Front Aging Neurosci. 2017;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171MedlinePlus.Restless legs syndrome.Didato G, Di Giacomo R, Rosa GJ, Dominese A, de Curtis M, and Lanteri P.Restless legs syndrome across the lifespan: Symptoms, pathophysiology, management and daily life impact of the different patterns of disease presentation.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(10)3658. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103658National Organization of Rare Diseases.Restless legs syndrome: standard therapies.Jadidi A, Rezaei Ashtiani A, Khanmohamadi Hezaveh A, Aghaepour SM.Therapeutic effects of magnesium and vitamin B6 in alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;23(1):1. doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03814-8Kallweit U, Werth E, Seiz A, et al.Psychiatric comorbidities in restless legs syndrome.JNP. 2016;28(3):239-242. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.15030055
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Restless legs syndrome.Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, et al.Restless legs syndrome: from pathophysiology to clinical diagnosis and management.Front Aging Neurosci. 2017;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171MedlinePlus.Restless legs syndrome.Didato G, Di Giacomo R, Rosa GJ, Dominese A, de Curtis M, and Lanteri P.Restless legs syndrome across the lifespan: Symptoms, pathophysiology, management and daily life impact of the different patterns of disease presentation.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(10)3658. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103658National Organization of Rare Diseases.Restless legs syndrome: standard therapies.Jadidi A, Rezaei Ashtiani A, Khanmohamadi Hezaveh A, Aghaepour SM.Therapeutic effects of magnesium and vitamin B6 in alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;23(1):1. doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03814-8Kallweit U, Werth E, Seiz A, et al.Psychiatric comorbidities in restless legs syndrome.JNP. 2016;28(3):239-242. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.15030055
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Restless legs syndrome.
Guo S, Huang J, Jiang H, et al.Restless legs syndrome: from pathophysiology to clinical diagnosis and management.Front Aging Neurosci. 2017;9:171. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00171
MedlinePlus.Restless legs syndrome.
Didato G, Di Giacomo R, Rosa GJ, Dominese A, de Curtis M, and Lanteri P.Restless legs syndrome across the lifespan: Symptoms, pathophysiology, management and daily life impact of the different patterns of disease presentation.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(10)3658. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103658
National Organization of Rare Diseases.Restless legs syndrome: standard therapies.
Jadidi A, Rezaei Ashtiani A, Khanmohamadi Hezaveh A, Aghaepour SM.Therapeutic effects of magnesium and vitamin B6 in alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;23(1):1. doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03814-8
Kallweit U, Werth E, Seiz A, et al.Psychiatric comorbidities in restless legs syndrome.JNP. 2016;28(3):239-242. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.15030055
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
