Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder (RMD) is a neurological condition that involves repetitive movements before or during sleep.
Movements may also include body rocking, head banging, or rolling and can last minutes to hours.
This condition commonly affects children and rarely persists into adolescence or adulthood.
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During this period, an affected child may rock or move part of the body in a rhythmic manner.
This may involve the arm, hand, head, or trunk.
Other behaviors such as head banging or rolling may be observed.
More violent movements can occur and injuries may even result.
When Does Rhythmic Movement Disorder Occur?
Children with a rhythmic movement disorder may develop the condition before the age of 3 years.
In most cases, the symptoms fade away as the child becomes older.
RMD typically occurs early during the sleep-onset period, most commonly during light or non-REM sleep.
The movements typically diminish during stage 2 of sleep.
It may also occur during REM, however, which might make it difficult to distinguish fromREM behavior disorder.
There are a number of other conditions that are associated with RMD.
Diagnosis
Many parents may recognize the movements in their children.
Talk with your pediatrician about your observations and getting a more thorough sleep history.
There are a few other conditions that might mimic RMD, and these may require distinct treatments.
Uncontrolled movements of part of the body may occur as part of a nocturnal seizure.
Contractures of muscles often called dystonia, may also appear similar to rhythmic movement disorder.
There are certain sleep disorders in children that might involve movements, includingparasomniasandconfusional arousals.
In addition, other behavioral problems may manifest with symptoms similar to RMD.
Some medications may also cause excessive movements during the period surrounding sleep and these should be considered.
In these cases, stopping the medication after discussing it with your pediatrician may relieve the movements.
Your pediatrician may suggest a few tests to differentiate the cause of the movements.
A routineelectroencephalogram (EEG)may be performed.
This test measures the electrical activity of the brain.
First, it is important to maintain a regular sleep schedule and observebetter sleep guidelinesfor children.
These steps will ensure quality sleep and prevent exacerbating factors such as sleep deprivation.
It may be necessary to move the mattress onto the floor away from the bedroom walls or other objects.
Some children with severe headbanging sleep in a protective helmet.
In some instances, sedating medications may be used to minimize the movements.
As an example, the medication clonazepam, which is often used to treat anxiety, has been used.
Some people may be responsive tomelatonin, which can help you naturally control your sleep cycle.
Other relaxation techniques have also been reported to be effective.
In most cases, though rhythmic movement disorder may be distressing to observe, it is relatively harmless.
Children are not typically bothered by it.
As most outgrow the condition, it may not require long-term treatment.
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