Polysomnography in the evaluation of abnormal movements during sleep
- Authors
- Charlene E Gamaldo, MD, FAASM, FAAN
Charlene E Gamaldo, MD, FAASM, FAAN
- Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Medicine, Psychiatry, and Nursing
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
- Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy & Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Rachel Marie E Salas, MD
Rachel Marie E Salas, MD
- Associate Professor of Neurology, Medicine, and Nursing
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
- Section Editor
- Susan M Harding, MD, FCCP, AGAF
Susan M Harding, MD, FCCP, AGAF
- Section Editor — Diagnostic Testing
- Professor of Medicine
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Deputy Editor
- April F Eichler, MD, MPH
April F Eichler, MD, MPH
- Senior Deputy Editor — UpToDate
- Deputy Editor — Neurology and Sleep Medicine
- Assistant Professor of Neurology
- Harvard Medical School
INTRODUCTION
Sleep-related movements are commonly observed on polysomnography (PSG) and are often benign. However, certain movements warrant further investigation when they negatively impact sleep quality, resulting in daytime symptoms or injury.
Important elements of in-laboratory PSG recordings of simple sleep-related movements are reviewed here. More detailed reviews of the pathogenesis, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of sleep-related movement disorders are presented separately. (See "Approach to abnormal movements and behaviors during sleep" and "Clinical features and diagnosis of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease and periodic limb movement disorder in adults" and "Treatment of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease and periodic limb movement disorder in adults".)
PSG in the evaluation of more complex movements, including parasomnias such as sleepwalking and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, is also reviewed separately. (See "Polysomnography in the evaluation of parasomnias and epilepsy".)
RECORDING SLEEP-RELATED MOVEMENT
Technical points — Polysomnography (PSG) consists of the simultaneous recording of multiple physiologic variables during sleep (figure 1):
●Electrooculogram (EOG) captures eye movement.
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To continue reading this article, you must log in with your personal, hospital, or group practice subscription. For more information or to purchase a personal subscription, click below on the option that best describes you:Literature review current through: Jun 2017. | This topic last updated: Feb 20, 2017.The content on the UpToDate website is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any medical questions or conditions. The use of this website is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use ©2017 UpToDate, Inc.References- Berry RB, Brooks R, Gamaldo CE, et al for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications, Version 2.4, www.aasmnet.org, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Darien, IL 2017.
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Top- INTRODUCTION
- RECORDING SLEEP-RELATED MOVEMENT
- Technical points
- Movement artifacts
- REPORTING OF SLEEP-RELATED MOVEMENTS
- SPECIFIC MOVEMENTS
- Periodic limb movements of sleep
- Sleep-related leg cramps
- Sleep-related bruxism
- Sleep-related rhythmic movements
- Benign sleep myoclonus of infancy
- Propriospinal myoclonus at sleep onset
- Excessive fragmentary myoclonus
- Alternating leg muscle activation
- Hypnagogic foot tremor
- Hypnic jerks (sleep starts)
- SUMMARY
- REFERENCES