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Movement-Related Sleep Disorders Find Relief from Restless Legs, Jerking Movements, and Jaw Clenching

Comprehensive assessment and evidence-based behavioral management for Restless Legs Syndrome, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, sleep bruxism, and jaw clenching. Specialist coordination and referral when needed. Available in Calgary and across Alberta.

What Are Movement-Related Sleep Disorders?

Movement-related sleep disorders involve repetitive, involuntary movements during sleep or before sleep that disrupt sleep quality and cause physical discomfort. These conditions—including Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), sleep bruxism, and jaw clenching—often have both neurological and behavioral components. While some conditions require medical evaluation and potential medication management, behavioral strategies and lifestyle modifications can significantly improve symptoms and sleep quality.

Movement-Related Sleep Disorders We Treat

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

An uncomfortable sensation in the legs (and sometimes arms) before sleep, creating an irresistible urge to move to relieve the discomfort.

  • Uncomfortable sensations in legs (tingling, crawling, throbbing, aching)
  • Strong urge to move legs to relieve the feeling
  • Symptoms worse in evening and at night
  • Difficulty falling asleep due to leg discomfort
  • Restlessness and inability to sit still before bed
  • Symptoms temporarily relieved by movement

RLS affects up to 10% of the population and significantly impacts sleep onset and relationship satisfaction. We provide comprehensive assessment, behavioral strategies, lifestyle modifications, and coordination with medical specialists for medication evaluation when appropriate. Iron deficiency and other medical factors are evaluated.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)

Repetitive jerking or twitching movements of the legs (and sometimes arms) during sleep, often causing brief arousals that fragment sleep quality.

  • Repetitive limb movements during sleep (often 20-40 second intervals)
  • Frequent arousals during sleep from movements
  • Daytime sleepiness and fatigue despite time in bed
  • Non-restorative or fragmented sleep
  • Bed partner noticing leg twitching or kicking
  • Morning muscle soreness or aching

PLMD causes sleep fragmentation without conscious awareness of movements. Diagnosis typically requires polysomnography (sleep study). We coordinate medical evaluation, provide behavioral sleep optimization, and help manage the cascade of poor sleep quality and daytime dysfunction.

Sleep Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Involuntary grinding, clenching, or gnashing of teeth during sleep, causing dental damage, jaw pain, and sleep disruption.

  • Audible grinding or clenching sounds during sleep
  • Worn, flattened, or chipped teeth
  • Jaw pain, soreness, or tension upon waking
  • Facial or ear pain
  • Headaches, especially upon waking
  • Bed partner reports hearing grinding sounds

Sleep bruxism damages teeth and causes jaw dysfunction. While a dental night guard protects teeth, behavioral strategies can reduce grinding frequency and intensity. We address stress, muscle tension, sleep architecture, and habits that trigger grinding episodes.

Sleep-Related Jaw Clenching (Sleep Tachykinesia)

Sustained or repetitive clenching of the jaw during sleep, causing jaw pain, muscle tension, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

  • Jaw clenching without grinding sounds
  • Morning jaw stiffness and soreness
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
  • Difficulty opening mouth fully in the morning
  • Facial muscle tension and pain
  • Headaches, particularly tension-type

Jaw clenching creates sustained muscle tension and jaw dysfunction. Unlike grinding, clenching doesn't produce audible sounds but causes significant pain and TMJ complications. We use relaxation training, stress management, muscle tension reduction, and behavioral strategies to decrease clenching during sleep.

Sleep Starts & Hypnic Jerks

Sudden, involuntary muscle jerks occurring as you're falling asleep, sometimes causing you to startle awake or disrupting your partner.

  • Sudden muscle jerks when falling asleep
  • Startling awake from the jerking sensation
  • Full-body or localized limb movements
  • Often triggered by stress or fatigue
  • More frequent with caffeine use
  • Disrupts falling asleep process

Sleep starts are common and usually benign, but when frequent, they disrupt sleep onset and create anxiety about falling asleep. We address sleep quality, stress, caffeine sensitivity, and behavioral relaxation techniques to minimize hypnic jerks.

Rhythmic Movement Disorder (RMD)

Repetitive, rhythmic movements before or during sleep, such as head banging (jactatio capitis nocturna) or body rocking, most common in young children but can persist into adulthood.

  • Rhythmic head banging, body rocking, or thrashing
  • Occurs during transition to sleep or during sleep
  • Repetitive, stereotyped movements
  • May cause injury or significant sleep disruption
  • Often worse with stress or fatigue
  • Can be associated with developmental or neurological conditions

RMD requires careful assessment for underlying neurological or developmental conditions. We provide behavioral management, safe sleep environment optimization, and coordination with medical specialists. Most cases improve with consistent behavioral intervention and stress management.

Comprehensive Assessment & Diagnosis

How We Evaluate Movement Disorders

Accurate diagnosis of movement-related sleep disorders often requires both clinical assessment and sometimes medical testing. Our comprehensive approach combines psychological evaluation with coordination of medical workup when indicated.

Clinical Interview & History

We gather detailed information about movement symptoms, sleep patterns, family history, medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors that may contribute to movement disorders.

Sleep Study Coordination

For conditions like PLMD, we coordinate sleep study (polysomnography) referrals with sleep medicine specialists to objectively measure limb movements and sleep fragmentation during the night.

Medical Evaluation

We work with your physician to evaluate for underlying conditions (iron deficiency, kidney disease, neuropathy, etc.) that may contribute to RLS or other movement disorders requiring medical treatment.

Behavioral & Lifestyle Assessment

We assess sleep habits, stress levels, caffeine and nicotine use, exercise patterns, and other behavioral factors that influence movement disorders to identify modifiable components.

Evidence-Based Treatment Strategies

How Behavioral Management Works

While some movement-related sleep disorders have medical components requiring medication, behavioral and lifestyle strategies are essential first-line interventions that significantly improve symptoms, reduce sleep disruption, and improve overall quality of life.

Lifestyle & Environmental Modifications

Iron supplementation (when deficient), caffeine and nicotine reduction, regular exercise timing, temperature control, and sleep environment optimization specifically target movement disorder triggers and severity.

Stress & Tension Reduction

Progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, breathing techniques, and stress management reduce the nervous system activation that exacerbates RLS, bruxism, and jaw clenching.

Sleep Hygiene & Architecture

Optimizing sleep schedule, improving sleep quality, and reducing sleep fragmentation addresses the sleep deprivation that worsens movement symptoms and daytime dysfunction.

Specialist Coordination

We coordinate with sleep medicine physicians, neurologists, and dentists (for bruxism) to ensure comprehensive, integrated care combining behavioral and medical approaches for optimal results.

Why Choose Comprehensive Movement Disorder Care?

Holistic Assessment

We evaluate behavioral, psychological, and medical factors to understand your specific movement disorder and develop a comprehensive management plan.

Specialist Coordination

We work collaboratively with sleep medicine physicians, neurologists, and other specialists to ensure integrated care combining behavioral and medical interventions.

Behavioral First

We optimize behavioral, lifestyle, and sleep-related interventions as first-line treatment, providing lasting improvements without medication side effects when possible.

Practical Solutions

We provide concrete, evidence-based strategies you can implement immediately to reduce symptoms, improve sleep quality, and enhance daytime functioning.

Sleep-Specific Expertise

Our specialized knowledge of how movement disorders interact with sleep architecture and quality ensures targeted, effective interventions.

Long-Term Management

We develop sustainable strategies for ongoing symptom management, helping you maintain improvements and prevent symptom escalation over time.

What to Expect from Movement Disorder Treatment

1

Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment

We conduct a detailed clinical interview, sleep history, symptom assessment, and medical history review. We may coordinate sleep study referrals or medical evaluation with your physician when diagnostic confirmation is needed.

2

Movement Symptom Tracking

You'll track movement symptoms, frequency, severity, triggers, and impact on sleep in a sleep and movement diary to identify patterns and modifiable factors.

3

Integrated Treatment Plan

Based on your assessment, we develop a comprehensive plan combining behavioral strategies, lifestyle modifications, stress reduction, sleep optimization, and specialist coordination when medical treatment is indicated.

4

Skill Development & Implementation

We teach relaxation techniques, stress management, behavioral strategies, and sleep optimization skills with practice assignments to build mastery and confidence in symptom management.

5

Progress Monitoring & Adjustment

We track symptom reduction, movement frequency changes, sleep quality improvement, and daytime functioning with regular check-ins. Treatment is adjusted based on response and emerging needs.

6

Long-Term Management & Independence

Once symptoms improve, we develop a maintenance plan ensuring sustained progress and equipping you with strategies for ongoing self-management and handling any symptom fluctuations.

Common Questions About Movement-Related Sleep Disorders

Do I need a sleep study for movement disorders?

It depends on your specific condition. For suspected PLMD or to differentiate from other sleep disorders, polysomnography (sleep study) provides objective data about limb movements and sleep fragmentation. We'll coordinate sleep studies when diagnostically indicated or clinically helpful for your care plan.

Can behavioral treatment work if I need medication?

Absolutely. Behavioral strategies and medication work synergistically. Many people benefit from combined approaches where medication addresses the neurological component while behavioral interventions optimize sleep, reduce stress, and provide long-term symptom management skills.

Is RLS related to iron deficiency?

Iron deficiency is a common contributing factor to RLS. We coordinate medical evaluation including iron studies with your physician. If iron deficiency is present, supplementation often significantly improves RLS symptoms. However, RLS occurs in people with normal iron levels too.

How quickly will my symptoms improve?

Timeline varies by condition and treatment response. Some people notice improvement in lifestyle modifications and behavioral strategies within 1-2 weeks. More substantial changes typically occur over 4-8 weeks. Medical treatment, when indicated, may show faster results but behavioral strategies provide lasting long-term improvement.

Will a night guard help my teeth grinding?

Night guards protect teeth from grinding damage but don't reduce grinding frequency. We address the underlying behavioral and physiological drivers of bruxism through stress reduction, muscle relaxation, and behavioral intervention, which actually reduces grinding episodes. Night guards are protective, but behavioral treatment addresses the root cause.

What about extended health insurance coverage?

Most extended health insurance plans cover psychologist services. We provide receipts for insurance claims. Check with your provider about coverage limits and any deductibles that may apply.

Ready to Stop the Restlessness and Reclaim Peaceful Sleep?

Join people who have found relief from movement-related sleep disorders with Dr. Pratt's comprehensive assessment and evidence-based behavioral management

Location: Calgary office or secure video sessions

Most extended health benefits cover psychological services