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Related Concept Videos

Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors01:27

Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors

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Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a neurological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs due to uncomfortable sensations. These sensations typically occur during periods of rest or inactivity, particularly when lying down or sitting, and can severely disrupt sleep.
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Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
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REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
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Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...
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Updated: May 2, 2026

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study
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Restless legs syndrome status as a predictor for lower physical function.

Chunbai Zhang1, Yanping Li, Atul Malhotra

  • 1From The Channing Division of Network Medicine (C.Z., Y.L., X.G.) and Division of Sleep Medicine (C.Z., A.M.), Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health (Y.N.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond; the Department of Nutrition (X.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and School of Public Health (XG), Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Neurology
|March 7, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and other sleep issues significantly lower physical function over time. These sleep complaints may indicate underlying health risks impacting mobility and daily activities.

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Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder.
  • Sleep disturbances like insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness are prevalent.
  • Physical function (PF) is a key indicator of health and independence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and other sleep complaints with subsequent physical function (PF).
  • To analyze the impact of RLS on physical function in a large cohort of men over a 6-year period.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal analysis of 12,556 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
  • Assessment of RLS using International RLS Study Group criteria in 2002.
  • Evaluation of PF using the SF-36 PF-10 survey in 1996 and 2008.
  • Statistical adjustment for age, baseline PF, and other potential confounders.

Main Results:

  • Participants with RLS at baseline showed significantly lower PF-10 scores 6 years later (mean difference = -2.32, p = 0.01).
  • The impact of frequent RLS symptoms on PF was comparable to aging or moderate smoking.
  • Daily daytime sleepiness and long sleep duration (≥ 9 hours) were also linked to reduced PF.

Conclusions:

  • RLS and other sleep complaints are associated with diminished physical function.
  • Further longitudinal research including diverse populations is warranted.
  • The role of RLS as an independent risk factor or a marker for other conditions affecting physical function requires further investigation.