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Leg Movements (leg + movement)
Kinds of Leg Movements Selected AbstractsEffect of leg exercises on popliteal venous blood flow during prolonged immobility of seated subjects: implications for prevention of travel-related deep vein thrombosisJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 9 2007K. HITOS Summary.,Background:,Venous stasis is an important contributing factor in the development of travel-related deep vein thrombosis. This study examined factors affecting popliteal venous blood flow in order to determine the most effective exercise regimen to prevent venous stasis. Methods:,Twenty-one healthy subjects were randomly assigned to various activities over a 9-week period. Subjects remained seated throughout the investigation and 3660 duplex ultrasound examinations were performed by a single examiner using a SonoSite 180 Plus handheld ultrasound. Baseline popliteal vein blood flow velocity, cross-sectional area and volume flow in subjects sitting motionless were assessed in the first 3 weeks. The remaining 6 weeks involved subjects performing airline-recommended activities, foot exercises, foot exercises against moderate resistance and foot exercises against increased resistance in order to determine the most beneficial method for enhancing popliteal venous flow. Sitting with feet not touching the floor and the effect of sleeping were also assessed. Results:,The median age of the subjects was 22 years (range: 18,25.5 years), height 171 cm (162.5,180.5 cm) and body mass index 25.3 kg m,2 (23.2,26.3 kg m,2). Blood volume flow in the popliteal vein was reduced by almost 40% with immobility of seated subjects and by almost 2-fold when sitting motionless with feet not touching the floor. Foot exercises against increased resistance positively enhanced volume flow (P < 0.0001). Conclusion:,Leg exercise regimens enhanced popliteal venous flow during prolonged immobility of seated subjects, reinforcing the importance of regular leg movement to prevent venous stasis during prolonged sitting, such as in long-distance travel. [source] The pharmacological treatment for uremic restless legs syndrome: Evidence-based review,MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 10 2010Márcio Moysés de Oliveira MD Abstract Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common and often misdiagnosed entity among the general population and it may be more common among dialysis patients, with an estimated prevalence of 6.6 to 21.5%. The treatment for uremic RLS has been controversial and therefore a systematic synthesis of the evidence is needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatments for uremic RLS. This was a systematic review of randomized or quasi-randomized double-blind trials on treatments for uremic RLS. The outcomes considered were relief of RLS symptoms marked on a validated scale, subjective sleep quality, sleep quality measured using night polysomnography and actigraphy, quality of life measured subjectively, and adverse events associated with these treatments. Six eligible clinical trials were included. The results from subjective analyses in these studies were divergent, although objective analyses in one trial showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in periodic leg movement while asleep in the treatment group. No combined analysis (meta-analysis) was performed. The most common adverse event seen was gastrointestinal symptoms. Only a few therapeutic trials on patients with uremia with RLS have been published, and there is insufficient scientific evidence to favor any specific therapeutic regimen for uremic-associated RLS. Therapy using levodopa, dopaminergic agonists, anticonvulsants, and clonidine tend to be effective, but further studies are needed. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society [source] Investigation into the correlation between sensation and leg movement in restless legs syndromeMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 9 2005Paul V. Birinyi Abstract We evaluated rest effects on restless legs syndrome (RLS) sensory and motor symptoms. During two 60-minute Suggested Immobilization Tests (SIT) subject's signals of RLS leg sensations and periodic leg movements while awake (PLMW) were recorded. Sensations, PLMW, sensations preceding or after PLMW, sensations occurring without following PLMW, and PLMW occurring without preceding sensation were determined. The RLS patients were divided into equal-sized high and low PLMW groups for further analysis. Data from 46 subjects (28 RLS and 18 controls) revealed sensations increased linearly with rest in RLS patients and controls. Movement rate increased linearly with rest for controls but increased rapidly for the first 45 minutes for all RLS patients. PLMW/hour increased with further rest for low but not high PLMW patients. Sensations followed by PLMW and PLMW without preceding sensations followed similar patterns. Sensations without subsequent PLMW increased dramatically in the last 15 minutes of the SITs. Whereas both sensory and motor signs of RLS increase with rest, there is minimal increase for controls. Patients with higher but not lower PLMW rates reached a ceiling for PLMW after 35 to 40 minutes. The temporal dissociation between sensory and motor events supports viewing these motor and sensory events as separate but loosely linked manifestations of RLS. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society [source] Control of flexor motoneuron activity during single leg walking of the stick insect on an electronically controlled treadwheelDEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Jens Peter Gabriel Abstract In the present study, motoneurons innervating the flexor tibiae muscle of the stick insect (Cuniculina impigra) middle leg were recorded intracellularly while the single leg performed walking-like movements on a treadwheel. Different levels of belt friction (equivalent to a change in load) were used to study the control of activity of flexor motoneurons. During slow leg movements no fast motoneurons were active, but a recruitment of these neurons could be observed during faster leg movements. The firing rate of slow and fast motoneurons increased with incremented belt friction. Also, the force applied to the treadwheel at different frictional levels was adapted closely to the friction of the treadwheel to be overcome. The motoneurons innervating the flexor tibiae were recruited progressively during the stance phase, with the slow motoneurons being active earlier than the fast (half-maximal spike frequency after 10,15% and 50,60% of the stance phase, respectively). The resting membrane potential was more hyperpolarized in fast motoneurons (64.6 ± 6.5 mV) than in slow motoneurons (,52.9 ± 5.4 mV). However, the threshold for the initiation of action potentials was not statistically significantly different in both types of flexor motoneurons. Therefore, action potentials were generated in fast motoneurons after a longer period of depolarization and thus later during the stance phase than in slow motoneurons. We show that motoneurons of the flexor tibiae receive substantial common excitatory inputs during the stance phase and that the difference in resting membrane potential between slow and fast motoneurons is likely to play a crucial role in their consecutive recruitment. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 56: 237,251, 2003 [source] Spontaneous kicking in full-term and preterm infants with and without white matter disorderDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Linda Fetters Abstract Early damage to white matter of the brain may have developmental consequences for prematurely born infants including the coordination of leg movements. Our perspective is that white matter damage initiates an ontogenetic course that may lead to movement dysfunction leading to disability. In this study, spontaneous kicking in the human infant is a "window" for evaluating the potential consequences of perinatal brain damage for sensori-motor coordination. We compare the intra-limb coordination patterns of 5-month-old premature infants with white matter damage (PTWMD) to a group of prematurely born infants without WMD (PT) and a group of full-term (FT) infants. The PT group demonstrates advanced kicking patterns in comparison to both the PTWMD and FT groups. The PTWMD group has less mature patterns than the FT group on some, but not all measures. The movement challenge for PTWMD infants may be in the transition from spontaneous kicking to movements with the legs that require decoupling of intralimb joints. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 524,536, 2010. [source] Human fetal and neonatal movement patterns: Gender differences and fetal-to-neonatal continuityDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001C. Robert Almli Abstract Longitudinal quantification of leg movements per minute for human subjects during both fetal and neonatal periods was accomplished from videotapings conducted antenatally (ultrasonography 30, 34, and 37 weeks gestational age) and postnatally (birth and 6 weeks of age). Fetal/neonatal subjects displayed decreasing numbers of leg movements per minute during antenatal development (30 to 37 weeks), followed by increasing numbers of leg movements per minute during postnatal development (birth to 6 weeks of age). Male subjects displayed greater numbers of leg movements per minute than female subjects during both antenatal and postnatal development. Fetal-to-neonatal continuity for numbers of leg movements per minute was found for comparisons between fetal (37 weeks gestational age) and neonatal (during sleep states at birth) measures, and females displayed a stronger and different movement continuity pattern than males. These results indicate a differential time course for neurobehavioral development of male and female fetuses/neonates, and the findings have implications for the clinical assessment of fetal neurobehavioral development and well-being. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 38: 252,273, 2001 [source] Dream recall frequency and sleep quality of patients with restless legs syndromeEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 2 2001M. Schredl The present study investigated the dream recall frequency and the pattern of influencing factors of patients with restless legs syndrome in comparison with healthy controls. The patients' dream recall frequency did not differ from that of healthy controls. Dream recall, however, was negatively associated with the number of periodic leg movements with arousal (PLMAI). Subjective estimates of sleep quality or feeling of being refreshed in the morning, on the other hand, did not correlate with the PLMAI index. Whereas subjective sleep parameters were related to dream recall frequency in healthy controls, no substantial relationships were found in the patient group, except for the positive correlation between sleep latency and dream recall frequency. The results of the present study can not be interpreted as clear evidence for the arousal,retrieval model of dream recall; it seems plausible that other factors, e.g. the functional state of the brain, are of importance in explaining dream recall in this patient group. [source] Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of restless legs syndromeJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 8 2008ARNP (Adult Nurse Practitioner, Jennifer E. Smith MSN, Manager of an Anticoagulation Clinic) Abstract Purpose: To review the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and its relevance to nurse practitioners (NPs). Data sources: Comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the diagnosis and treatment of RLS in adults. Conclusions: RLS is a chronic neurological disorder that, with varying degrees of severity, affects 5%,10% of the general population. Because of the circadian pattern of onset, the symptoms of RLS may be associated with significant sleep disturbance and may have a negative impact on quality of life. RLS is characterized by a compelling urge to move the legs and usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable sensations in the legs. Symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity and are worse in the evening or at night. Other features supportive of a diagnosis include a family history, the presence of periodic leg movements in sleep, and the relief of symptoms after treatment with a dopaminergic therapy. Although the etiology of RLS is unknown, it is thought that symptoms result from a central dopaminergic dysfunction and dopamine agonists are considered first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe primary RLS. Nondopaminergic therapies and nonpharmacologic interventions may also be appropriate in the management of less severe cases of RLS. Implications for practice: NPs are often the first healthcare providers to see patients with RLS and therefore need to be able to accurately recognize and diagnose the disorder; this, in turn, will enable them to successfully manage the treatment of RLS. [source] Investigation into the correlation between sensation and leg movement in restless legs syndromeMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 9 2005Paul V. Birinyi Abstract We evaluated rest effects on restless legs syndrome (RLS) sensory and motor symptoms. During two 60-minute Suggested Immobilization Tests (SIT) subject's signals of RLS leg sensations and periodic leg movements while awake (PLMW) were recorded. Sensations, PLMW, sensations preceding or after PLMW, sensations occurring without following PLMW, and PLMW occurring without preceding sensation were determined. The RLS patients were divided into equal-sized high and low PLMW groups for further analysis. Data from 46 subjects (28 RLS and 18 controls) revealed sensations increased linearly with rest in RLS patients and controls. Movement rate increased linearly with rest for controls but increased rapidly for the first 45 minutes for all RLS patients. PLMW/hour increased with further rest for low but not high PLMW patients. Sensations followed by PLMW and PLMW without preceding sensations followed similar patterns. Sensations without subsequent PLMW increased dramatically in the last 15 minutes of the SITs. Whereas both sensory and motor signs of RLS increase with rest, there is minimal increase for controls. Patients with higher but not lower PLMW rates reached a ceiling for PLMW after 35 to 40 minutes. The temporal dissociation between sensory and motor events supports viewing these motor and sensory events as separate but loosely linked manifestations of RLS. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society [source] Narcoleptic canines display periodic leg movements during sleepPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 3 2001Mutsumi Okura MD Abstract Periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) is a high prevalent sleep disorder of unknown etiology. The disease is pharmacologically treated with dopaminergic agonists (i.e. D2/D3 agonists) and opiates. Periodic leg movements during sleep often occur in narcoleptic patients. We observed that narcoleptic canines, like narcoleptic humans, also exhibit jerky, unilateral or bilateral slow leg movements during sleep. The movements in dogs are characterized by repetitive dorsiflexions of the ankle, lasting 0.5,1.5 s, and occur at regular intervals of 3,20 s, thus showing similarities to PLMS in humans. The observation that D2/D3 agonists aggravate cataplexy in narcoleptic dogs suggests that altered dopaminergic regulation in canine narcolepsy may play a critical role in both cataplexy and PLMS. Our canines may therefore be an invaluable resource in PLMS research. [source] Circadian rhythm of restless legs syndrome: Relationship with biological markersANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2004Martin Michaud PhD Recently, it was suggested that the intensity of restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms may be modulated by a circadian factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate, during a 28-hour modified constant routine, the nycthemeral or circadian variations in subjective leg discomfort and periodic leg movements (PLMs) and to parallel these changes with those of subjective vigilance, core body temperature, and salivary melatonin. Seven patients with primary RLS and seven healthy subjects matched for sex and age entered this study. Although the symptoms were more severe in patients than in controls, a significant circadian variation in leg discomfort and PLM (p < 0.01) was found for both groups. In both groups, the profiles of leg discomfort and PLM were significantly correlated with those of subjective vigilance, core body temperature, and salivary melatonin. However, among these variables, the changes in melatonin secretion were the only ones that preceded the increase in sensory and motor symptoms in RLS patients. This result and those of others studies showing that melatonin exerts an inhibitory effect on central dopamine secretion suggest that melatonin might be implicated in the worsening of RLS symptoms in the evening and during the night. [source] | ||||||||||