What are the Criteria for the Diagnosis of RLS?

The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) has proposed a diagnostic criteria for RLS. Revised criteria for the diagnosis of RLS were formulated from a consensus conference held at the National Institutes of Health on May 1-3, 2002 in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

There are 4 essential criteria that are all necessary for diagnosis:

1) A need to move the legs, usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable, unpleasant sensations in the legs. Any kind of sensation may be a manifestation of RLS and a wide variety of descriptions have been used ranging from "painful" or "burning" to "Elvis legs". Sometimes the need to move is present without the uncomfortable sensations and sometimes the arms or other body parts are involved in addition to the legs.
2) The need to move and unpleasant sensations are exclusively present or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity such as lying or sitting
3) The need to move and unpleasant sensations are partially or totally relieved by movement such as walking or stretching at least as long as the activity continues.
4) The need to move and unpleasant sensations are generally worse or exclusively occur in the evening or night.

	Does RLS keeps you awake at night? Talk to your doctor about sleeping disorder and restless legs syndrome at your earliest convenience.