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:
- 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.
- The need to move and unpleasant sensations are exclusively
present or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity such as
lying or sitting
- 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.
- The need to move and unpleasant sensations are generally
worse or exclusively occur in the evening or night.
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