Restless Legs Syndrome

Diagnosis

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) can often be diagnosed with a detailed verbal description of symptoms, a physical examination, and a medical history including other instances of RLS in a patient's family.

Sometimes an overnight sleep study may also be necessary to check for periodic leg movements (which often occur in patients with restless legs syndrome) and other sleep disorders. A sleep study involves a nocturnal polysomnogram, a painless test in which a number of sensors are applied to the skin's surface to record brain wave activity, eye movements, breathing function, oxygen levels, heart rate and muscle activity during sleep.

Blood tests or muscle or nerve studies are also sometimes needed to confirm or rule out underlying conditions such as an iron deficiency or peripheral neuropathy.