Have you heard of Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) does not discriminate between men and women, and while it affects 1 million school aged children, 5 million American adults have moderate to severe RLS with twice as many women dealing with it than men.

Symptoms continue longer and become more frequent with age, though it’s important to note that the onset of RLS does not necessarily indicate the presence of other neurological diseases.

RLS can be traced to the basal ganglia, an area in the brain that governs involuntary movements. When there is dysfunction of the basal ganglia, it can cause tics, spasms, and tremors. In order for the basal ganglia to function properly, other areas of the brain must communicate appropriately with the basal ganglia. There are various reasons that result in miscommunication ranging from developmental delays in childhood, brain injuries and inflammation, to genetics and brain degeneration.

Thankfully, Functional Neurologists are extensively trained to examine brain function through various objective tests that include reflexes, movement and balance capture on a force plate, to evaluating eye movements on oculography testing, which some call videonystagmography (VNG) testing.