Project Overview
Project Background, Design Requirements, and Schedule
Project Background
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), as well as restless leg syndrome (RLS) are sleep related disorders that are commonly seen to occur simultaneously, and increase with frequency of spinal cord disease. According to the National Sleep Foundation, PLMD is specifically classified by the uncontrollable and repetitive limb movements during sleep. These movements are commonly seen to occur in the lower extremities; specifically including dorsiflexion at the ankle, flexion of the knee or hip, as well as extension of the big toe (Brown et al, 2000). Patients exhibiting this periodic limb movement are often seen to also display symptoms of restless leg syndrome, which is clinically defined as the irresistible urge to move the legs in order to relieve paresthesia as well as dysesthesia (Ekbom, Ulfberg, 2009). Restless leg syndrome is occasionally associated with iron deficiency, pregnancy, and chronic renal failure, however advanced brain imaging has revealed that it is more commonly related to dopamine dysfunction within the central nervous system (Ekbom, Ulfberg, 2009). The prevalence of RLS is closely related to the occurrence of PLMD, which is seen to increase in patients with spinal cord injuries, due to the impact on the central nervous system (Telles, 2012). In addition to spinal cord injuries, these sensory motor disorders are all seen to increase in patients exhibiting neurological conditions such as transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis. In 2012 Telles reported that PLMD and RLS was found in 45% of patients exhibiting spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, which can include; spinal cord tumor, syringomyelia, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, or spinal cord trauma.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory, demyelinating neurodegenerative disease, resulting in damage to the brain and spinal cord (Adar et al, 2011). Transverse myelitis is also a demyelinating inflammatory condition of the spinal cord, which again results in damage to the central nervous system. The severity of both diseases can vary greatly from patient to patient; from minor abnormal neurological signs to severe disability, impairing daily activities and loss of lower limb functionality. Both neurodegenerative conditions are seen to increase the frequency of periodic limb movement disorder as well as restless leg syndrome. According to a study conducted in 2011 by Aydar et al comparing RLS in healthy patients to that of MS patients, the frequency of PLMD and RLS was observed to be significantly greater in the MS group (p= 0.018), occurring at a rate of 2.55 time greater than in healthy patients.
It is becoming increasingly important to research restless leg syndrome and periodic leg movements, and especially understand the relationship between these sensory motor disorders and neurodegenerative conditions. PLMD and RLS are extremely uncomfortable and result in lack of sleep, or unrefreshing sleep in patients. There are currently various medications, and home remedies (walking or massaging legs) available to treat these painful and involuntary limb movements, however few have been noted to be exceptionally successful and many only treat the symptoms (i.e sleep, pain, etc). The lack of successful treatments as well as the prevalence of these uncomfortable leg conditions is motivation to research and develop a new solution aimed to predict and relieve the muscle spasms caused by PLMD and RLS. The goal of this project is to create a device which can assist patients experiencing PLMD and RLS by sensing and these painful leg contractions and alerting the patient when they will occur, thus indicating to them to move their legs and walk about if they are capable.
References:
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory, demyelinating neurodegenerative disease, resulting in damage to the brain and spinal cord (Adar et al, 2011). Transverse myelitis is also a demyelinating inflammatory condition of the spinal cord, which again results in damage to the central nervous system. The severity of both diseases can vary greatly from patient to patient; from minor abnormal neurological signs to severe disability, impairing daily activities and loss of lower limb functionality. Both neurodegenerative conditions are seen to increase the frequency of periodic limb movement disorder as well as restless leg syndrome. According to a study conducted in 2011 by Aydar et al comparing RLS in healthy patients to that of MS patients, the frequency of PLMD and RLS was observed to be significantly greater in the MS group (p= 0.018), occurring at a rate of 2.55 time greater than in healthy patients.
It is becoming increasingly important to research restless leg syndrome and periodic leg movements, and especially understand the relationship between these sensory motor disorders and neurodegenerative conditions. PLMD and RLS are extremely uncomfortable and result in lack of sleep, or unrefreshing sleep in patients. There are currently various medications, and home remedies (walking or massaging legs) available to treat these painful and involuntary limb movements, however few have been noted to be exceptionally successful and many only treat the symptoms (i.e sleep, pain, etc). The lack of successful treatments as well as the prevalence of these uncomfortable leg conditions is motivation to research and develop a new solution aimed to predict and relieve the muscle spasms caused by PLMD and RLS. The goal of this project is to create a device which can assist patients experiencing PLMD and RLS by sensing and these painful leg contractions and alerting the patient when they will occur, thus indicating to them to move their legs and walk about if they are capable.
References:
- Aydar G, Kurt S, Karaer Unaldi H, Erkorkmaz U, Restless Legs Syndrome in Multiple Sclerosis. Eur Neurol 2011;65:302-306
- Brown, LK, et al. “The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- Ekbom, K, and J Ulfberg, “Restless leg Syndrome”. Journal of Internal Medicine, 20 Aug. 2009.
- Hadas, Noam. Nocturnal Muscle Activity Monitoring System, 2000
- Kobayashi, Mina, et al. “The Validity of the PAM-RL Device for Evaluating Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep and an Investigation on Night-to-Night Variability of Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder Using This System.” Sleep Medicine, Elsevier, 31 Oct. 2013,
- Montplaisir J, Lorrain D, Godbout R, “Restless legs Syndrome and periodic Leg Movement in Sleep: The primary Role of Dopaminergic Mechanism”. Eur Neurol 1991;31;41-43
- Moran, D. (2017, October 4). Personal Advice
- Olshausen, Bruno A. Aliasing. Berkeley Edu, 10 Oct. 2010, redwood.berkeley.edu/bruno/npb261/aliasing.pdf.
- “Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep.” National Sleep Foundation, sleepfoundation.org/sleepdisorders-problems/sleep-related-movement-disorders/periodic-limb-movement disorder.
- Sforza, Emilia. “Night-to-Night Variability in Periodic Leg Movements in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome.” Sleep Medicine, Elsevier, 25 Jan. 2005,www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945704002138.
- Sabetkasi, M, et al. “Baclofen and antidepressant - induced antinociception in formalin test: possible GABAb mechanism involvement” Psychopharmacology, March 1999.
- TI Instruments. Selecting an A/D Converter. TI Instruments, Apr. 1995,www.ti.com/lit/an/sbaa004a/sbaa004a.pdf.
- Telles, Susanna, et al. “Spinal Cord Injury as a Trigger to Develop Periodic leg Movements During Sleep: an Evolutionary Perspective.” SciElo Brasil. Apr. 2012.
- Baier, Paul, and Claudia Trenkwalder. “Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Movement Disorder.” Sleep Medicine, Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Design Requirements
Schedule