Overview
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes a very strong urge to move the legs. The urge to move usually is caused by an uncomfortable feeling in the legs. It typically happens in the evening or at night when sitting or lying down. Moving eases the discomfort for a short time.
Restless legs syndrome can begin at any age and tends to get worse with age. It can disrupt sleep, which interferes with daily activities. RLS also is known as Willis-Ekbom disease.
Simple self-care steps and lifestyle changes may help relieve symptoms. Medicines also help many people with RLS.
Products & Services
Symptoms
The chief symptom of restless legs syndrome is an urge to move the legs. It's common to experience:
- Uncomfortable sensations that begin while resting. A feeling in the legs typically begins after you've been lying down or sitting for an extended time. It might happen while sitting in a car, airplane or movie theater.
- Relief with movement. The sensation of RLS lessens with movement. Stretching, jiggling the legs, pacing or walking may improve symptoms.
- Worsening of symptoms in the evening. Symptoms occur mainly at night.
- Nighttime leg twitching. RLS may be associated with another, more common condition called periodic limb movement of sleep. This condition causes the legs to twitch and kick during sleep, possibly throughout the night.
People typically describe RLS symptoms as compelling, unpleasant feelings in the legs or feet. They usually happen on both sides of the body. Less commonly, the sensations affect the arms.
The sensations are felt within the leg rather than on the skin. They're described as:
- Crawling.
- Creeping.
- Pulling.
- Throbbing.
- Aching.
- Itching.
- Electric.
Sometimes the feelings of RLS are hard to explain. People with RLS usually don't describe the condition as a muscle cramp or numbness. They do, however, consistently describe the desire to move the legs.
It's common for symptoms to get better and worse. Sometimes symptoms disappear for periods of time, then come back.
When to see a doctor
Talk with your healthcare professional if you have symptoms of restless legs syndrome. RLS can interfere with your sleep, cause daytime drowsiness and affect your quality of life.
Request an appointment
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Causes
Often, there's no known cause for restless legs syndrome. Researchers suspect the condition may be caused by an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine sends messages to control muscle movement.
Heredity
Sometimes RLS runs in families, especially if the condition starts before age 40. Researchers have identified sites on the chromosomes where genes for RLS may be present.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy or hormonal changes may worsen RLS symptoms. Some people get RLS for the first time during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester. However, symptoms usually disappear after delivery.
Risk factors
Restless legs syndrome can develop at any age, even during childhood. The condition is more common with increasing age. It's also more common in women than in men.
RLS usually isn't related to a serious underlying medical condition. However, it sometimes occurs with other conditions, such as:
- Peripheral neuropathy. This damage to the nerves in the hands and feet is sometimes due to chronic diseases such as diabetes and alcohol use disorder.
- Iron deficiency. Too little iron in the body, known as iron deficiency, can cause or worsen RLS. People who have a history of bleeding from the stomach or bowels may have iron deficiency. Deficiency also may affect people who have heavy menstrual periods or who often donate blood.
- Kidney failure. If you have kidney failure, you also may have iron deficiency, often with anemia. When kidneys don't function properly, iron stores in the blood can decrease. This and other changes in body chemistry may cause or worsen RLS.
- Spinal cord conditions. Damage or injury of the spinal cord has been linked to RLS. Having had anesthesia to the spinal cord, such as a spinal block, also increases the risk of developing RLS.
- Parkinson's disease. People who have Parkinson's disease and take medicines called dopaminergic agonists have an increased risk of developing RLS.
Complications
Restless legs syndrome symptoms can range from being mild to having a serious impact on people's lives. Many people with RLS find it hard to fall or stay asleep.
Serious symptoms of RLS can affect quality of life and result in depression. Not being able to sleep may lead to excessive daytime drowsiness, but RLS may interfere with napping.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Restless legs syndrome care at Mayo Clinic
Request an appointment
Jan. 26, 2024
- Restless legs syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Restless-Legs-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet. Accessed Nov. 16, 2021.
- Ondo WG. Clinical features and diagnosis of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 16, 2021.
- Silber MH. Management of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 16, 2021.
- Garcia-Borreguero D, et al. Guidelines for the first-line treatment of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease, prevention and treatment of dopaminergic augmentation: A combined task force of the IRLSSG, EURLSSG, and the RLS-foundation. Sleep Medicine. 2016; doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2016.01.017.
- Winkelman JW, et al. Practice guideline summary: Treatment of restless legs syndrome in adults — Report of the guideline development, dissemination and implementation subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2016; doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000003388.
- Silber MH, et al. The appropriate use of opioids in the treatment of refractory restless legs syndrome. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.11.007.
- Trenkwalder, et al. Comorbidities, treatment and pathophysiology in restless legs syndrome. The Lancet Neurology. 2018; doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30311-9.
- Ferri FF. Restless legs syndrome. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2024. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 27, 2023.
- Ami TR. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Nov. 14, 2023.
- AskMayoExpert. Restless legs syndrome (RLS). Mayo Clinic; 2020.
- Xu XM, et al. Complementary and alternative therapies for restless legs syndrome: An evidence-based systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2017.06.003.
- Find a sleep facility near you. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-center/. Accessed Nov. 27, 2023.
- Gonzalez-Latapi P, et al. Update on restless legs syndrome: From mechanisms to treatment. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. 2019; doi:10.1007/s11910-019-0965-4.
- Silber MH, et al. The management of restless legs syndrome: An updated algorithm. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.12.026.
- Olson EJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Nov. 28, 2023.
Related
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Restless legs syndrome in kids
Associated Procedures
- Massage therapy
Restless legs syndrome
- Care atMayoClinic
Advertisement
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Advertising & Sponsorship
- Policy
- Opportunities
- Ad Choices
Mayo Clinic Press
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.
- NEW: Listen to Health Matters Podcast - Mayo Clinic PressNEW: Listen to Health Matters Podcast
- Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on Incontinence
- The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic PressThe Essential Diabetes Book
- Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance
- FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment
- Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book
CON-20377146
- Restless legs syndrome