Doctors Answers (2)
Hypnic jerks or sleep starts are brief total body jerks that occur at sleep onset. They are classified as a parasomania but considered entirely normal. Restless Leg Syndrome is an intrinsic sleep disorder characterized by abnormal sensations or uncomfortable sensations in the limbs (mostly legs) that compel a person to move to relieve the sensations and that are exacerbated by rest. The symptoms occur primarily at night and result in difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep.
Hypnic jerks (also known as sleep starts) are a completely normal experience, often described as a falling sensation or electric shock that occurs as a person is falling asleep. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a movement disorder which involves an intense urge to move your legs during the evening hours and may interfere with falling asleep. A person usually feels an uncomfortable sensation in the legs, creating the urge to move. The symptoms are worse when lying or sitting still. The symptoms are temporarily relieved by stretching or moving the legs.
