title: Upper limb function is normal in patients with restless legs syndrome (Willis-Ekbom Disease).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Restless legs syndrome, now called Willis-Ekbom Disease (RLS/WED), is a sensorimotor-related sleep disorder. Little is known of the effect of RLS/WED on motor function. The current study investigated upper limb function in RLS/WED patients. We hypothesised that RLS/WED patients exhibit subtle changes in tremor amplitude but normal dexterity and movement speed and rhythmicity compared to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  RLS/WED patients (n=17, 59 ± 7 years) with moderate disease and healthy controls (n=17, 58 ± 6 years) completed screening tests and five tasks including object manipulation, maximal pinch grip, flexion and extension of the index finger (tremor assessment), maximal finger tapping (movement speed and rhythmicity assessment), and the grooved pegboard test. Force, acceleration, and/or first dorsal interosseus EMG were recorded during four of the tasks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Task performance did not differ between groups. Learning was evident on tasks with repeated trials and the magnitude of learning did not differ between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hand function, tremor, and task learning were unaffected in RLS/WED patients. Patients manipulated objects in a normal manner and exhibited normal movement speed, rhythmicity, and tremor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is needed to assess other types of movement in RLS/WED patients to gain insight into the motor circuitry affected and the underlying pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Electronic address: gabrielle.todd@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haberfield
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.affiliation: Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Human Physiology, Medical School, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Tarsha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bulathsinhala
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Ron R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Grunstein
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Brendon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Kay L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Double
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014202:Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Hand; Object manipulation; Pegboard; Pinch grip; Restless legs syndrome; Tremor