Understanding Sleep Movement Disorders - Doctor Q&A

Night-time movements: Understanding sleep-related events

Sleep-related movement disorders are conditions where repetitive movements affect a person’s sleep.

One example is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a sensory-motor neurological disorder that causes an overwhelming urge to move the legs. It often begins at a very young age but is mostly diagnosed in the middle or later years.

• Early-onset RLS occurs below the age of 45
• Late-onset RLS occurs above 45

When an involuntary twitching or jerking of the legs occurs during sleep, it is known as Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS). Up to 80 per cent of RLS patients have PLMS.

Both RLS and PLMS can disturb sleep by causing sleep-initiation insomnia and sleep maintenance insomnia respectively.

Other sleep movement disorders include bruxism (clenching or grinding of teeth during sleep), neck myoclonus (sudden jerks of the neck when drowsy or trying to fall asleep), leg cramps and hypnic jerks (muscle spasms during sleep).

If you have questions about sleep-related events such as:

• Acting of dreams
• Various movements occurring in sleep
• Sleep waking or talking
• Restless legs and sleep-related leg jerks
• Excessive day time sleepiness

Don't miss this chance to ask Dr Tushar Gosavi in this Q&A forum!

Dr Gosavi Tushar Divakar is Senior Consultant, Department of Neurology, at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI@SGH) and Deputy Head, Ambulatory Services (Neuroscience Clinic@SGH).

Dr Tushar is a neurologist with special interest in epilepsy and sleep medicine and has acquired masters in sleep medicine from Oxford University.

Ref: F26