Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: September | Volume: 10 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 50-54
Prevalence of Restless Leg Syndrome in Pregnancy
Nikita Naik1, Zahara Polen2
1Intern, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Physiotherapy, Pune - India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory PT, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India
Corresponding Author: Nikita Naik
ABSTRACT
Background: Restless leg syndrome is a common sensory motor neurological disorder that is an unpleasant creeping sensation deep in lower limb causing an irresistible desire to move the leg and relieve the sensation. The most common sensations have been described as cramping, soreness, creeping or crawling sensation in the calves or feet which can vary in severity from mild discomfort to severe pain. Various studies have described the presence of Restless Leg Syndrome during pregnancy the causes of which may be iron deficiency, peripheral neuropathy, increased BMI and high number of previous pregnancies. Symptoms are more strong and frequently seen in third trimester and may disappear after parturition. The prevalence of restless leg syndrome in pregnancy in Indian population is unknown.
Methods: Observational prevalence study where women between the ages of 20-29years with gestational age 20-40 weeks (N=225) were screened for RLS. The study was performed at a tertiary hospital in Pune, India.
Results: 36 women (16%) among the 225 screened were found to have restless leg syndrome. Further their severity was graded, 23 (10.7 %), 12 (5.3%) and 1 (0.4%) had mild, moderate and severe symptoms respectively. Among the women who were diagnosed with RLS, 66.5% (24/36) had complaints of sleep disturbance
Conclusion: The study was conducted to find prevalence of RLS in pregnant women in their third trimester at a Tertiary hospital which was found to be as high as 16%. RLS was previously undiagnosed in this population. Further, severity of RLS was graded. It was observed that most of the women experienced mild symptoms. It was also found that, among the women who had RLS, majority (66.5%) of them experienced sleep disturbance.
Key words: Restlessness, RLS, unpleasant sensation, primigravida, sleep disturbance, pregnancy