Restless legs syndrome: an update on diagnosis and management

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a relatively common disorder that leads to considerable distress in and of itself and amplifies other physical symptoms, such as pain, by exacerbating sleep disturbance in affected patients. Due to its prevalence, it is important to query patients about this syndrome, evaluate for treatable causes, and provide palliative therapy to optimize comfort and normalize sleep patterns. This brief review summarizes current understanding of pathophysiology, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment modalities.