The following 4 states must be met, according to the criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group³.

• Un need to move your legs, usually accompanied and sometimes caused by unpleasant sensations in the legs (tingling, tingling, itching, pain, etc.).
• This need to move appears (or worsens) during periods of rest or inactivity, usually in a sitting or lying position.
• Symptoms worsen evening and night.
• Un relief occurs when moving the legs (walking, stretching, bending the knees) or massaging them.

Remarks

• Symptoms come in periods, which last from a few minutes to a few hours.
• The syndrome is often accompanied bychronic insomnia, therefore very tired during the day.
• During the night, the syndrome is accompanied, in about 80% of cases, by involuntary movements of the legs, every 10 to 60 seconds. These make sleep light. These leg movements are often noticed by people with whom the subject is sharing the bed. Not to be confused with nocturnal cramps which are painful.

  Remark. The majority of people with periodic leg movements while they sleep do not have restless leg syndrome. These periodic movements can occur in isolation.

• Symptoms usually affect both legs, but sometimes only one.
• Sometimes the arms are also affected.