History of Restless Legs

Research into the cause and history of the Restless Leg Syndrome is ongoing and answers are very limited. The type of RLS that runs in families is known as primary or familial RLS.  The syndrome can also appear as a result of another medical condition, which worsens the underlying restless legs syndrome.  If a patienthas no family history of RLS and no underlying or associated conditions are causing the disorder, the experienced RLS is said to be idiopathic, meaning without a known cause.

In the year 1995, the "International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group identified" 4 basic known criteria for diagnosing restless legs: (1) a desire to move the limbs, often associated with paresthesias or dysesthesias, (2) symptoms that are worse or present only during rest and are partially or temporarily relieved by activity, (3) motor restlessness, and (4) nocturnal worsening of the symptoms.

The Restless legs syndrome is also known as the Ekbom syndrome, the Wittmaack-Ekbom syndrome, or anxietas tibialis. In a 1945 publication titled 'Restless Legs', Karl-Axel Ekbom described the disease and presented eight cases used for his studies. Earlier studies were done by Thomas Willis (1622-1675) and by Theodor Wittmaack. Another early description of the disease and its symptoms were made by George Miller Beard (1839-1883).

	In Germany the disease was known as "Anxietas tibiarum", while in France the term "Impatience musculaire" was used.

Karl-Axel Ekbom later presented up to 100 official studies and basically created the term "Restless Legs" at that time.