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= Paid-up subscribersMay 2008: Exercise beneficial for restless legs syndrome
21 May 2008
Restless legs syndrome has an estimated prevalence of 10-15% in the general population;2 this equates to around nine million affected adults in the UK. It is equally common in men and women,3 although it is associated with pregnancy, which increases lifetime prevalence in women. There is an age-related increase in prevalence, so it is more often seen in middle-aged and elderly patients.1 It may affect children and adolescents,4 although formal recognition may take years as in many patients the symptoms are mild and vague. Patients with early-onset restless legs syndrome often have a family history of the condition.5 There is no known anatomical pathology associated with restless legs syndrome.
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