Symptoms of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Sleep is not disturbed in mild form of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) but in the severe form, sleep is disrupted due to repeated arousals.

For most people, the abnormal limb movements do not disturb their sleep in an overwhelming way. There is no need to seek medical help either.

However, severe limb movements can greatly disturb the sleep pattern and the life of those who experience it The most common symptoms noted by people with PLMD are not leg movements, but poor night sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Many people with PLMD are unaware of their leg movements unless their bed partner tells them.

An episode of PLMD will normally last from a few minutes to an hour. Within that time, movements tend to occur every 20 to 40 seconds. Movements may involve one or both the limbs.

In a typical scenario, the knee, ankle, and big toe joints bend
The movements vary from mild movements to strenuous ones such as thrashing and wild kicking.
They may last for 0.5 to 5 seconds.
The movements are repetitive and tend to follow a rhythmic pattern. They occur within an interval of 20-40 seconds.

The movements usually occur during the Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep, in the first half of the night. When these movements are very severe, they may spill over into wakefulness.

Consequences of severe PLMD: