Jerking in Sleep

Jerking in sleep is not actually a disorder on its own, but a symptom. The effects of this particular symptom, however, can be devastating to a peaceful night’s sleep. Some involuntary muscle twitching is normal as a person falls asleep, and this type of jerking is called hypnagogic myoclonus.

Sleep experts can help evaluate the problem.

This type of muscle twitching occurs during very light sleep, and the sleeping person may feel as though he or she is falling. As long as this particular type of twitching doesn’t interfere with normal sleep patterns, all is well. However, some types of jerking in sleep may signify a more serious problem.

Mothers of newborn babies are often acutely attuned to the slightest hints that anything might be wrong with their babies. It’s understandable, then, that a mother who observes who newborn child’s limbs jerking may worry that her child is having seizures due to some serious neurological condition. However, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal, benign sleep myoclonus usually resolves itself by the time a child is three months old. This spontaneous resolution occurs because of the natural maturation of a baby’s sleep cycles at around 12 weeks old.

The major observable difference between the jerking of benign sleep myoclonus and an actual seizure is that the former will stop as soon as the affected infant is woken up. Parents who observe what they believe to be a seizure while their baby is asleep should try to wake the infant gently. If the jerking stops upon waking, this should be reported to the infant’s doctor to avoid unnecessary treatment with anticonvulsants. These medications can have serious side effects, especially in a very small infant, and should be administered only when necessary.

Jerking in sleep may also be referred to as periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). These repetitive muscle movements usually occur during non-REM sleep, and generally wake the sleeping person rather than interfering with the process of falling asleep. The movements are apart from the changes in body position that naturally occur during a night of sleep, and occur in episodes that may last an hour or only a few minutes with movements recurring every twenty to forty seconds during each episode.

Many people who have PLMS are not aware of it, and the disorder is most often first recognized by a bed partner. Movements are small, and may involve flexing of the big toe or a bend of the knee, hip, or ankle. If the movements are sudden and severe, they may disrupt sleep enough to cause excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, or even depression due to sleep deprivation. If the movements do not interfere with a person’s sleep or waking life, they are not considered a sleep disorder and do not require treatment.

To diagnose PLMS, a doctor would prescribe a sleep study, or polysomnogram. A polysomnogram involves an overnight stay in a sleep lab. Specialized instruments and lab technicians monitor sleep patterns, body movements, and brain waves, and a doctor uses the results of the sleep study to diagnose sleep disorders definitively. For PLMS, doctors may prescribe anti-seizure medications, sleeping pills, or narcotic painkillers, the same drugs that are used to treat restless leg syndrome.

Interestingly, PLMS affects up to 34 percent of people over 60 and is commonly found in people who have other sleep disorders like narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, or REM sleep behavior disorder. Some medications such as lithium, certain anti-nausea medicines, and some anti-depressants may cause or exacerbate PLMS, so it’s important to keep track of any changes in medication to help doctors accurately diagnose the reason for the PLMS.

Sudden muscle movements during sleep or while falling asleep may be frightening simply because they are involuntary and uncontrollable. If jerking during sleep causes fatigue or affects a person’s ability to get a full and restful night’s sleep, they should talk to their doctor about a referral for a sleep study. Sleep disorders can be treated, but only if a person lets a doctor know that sleep problems exist.

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