Sleep-related movement disorders in children and adolescents

Sleep-related movement disorders in children and adolescents include periodic limb movement disorders, restless legs syndrome, growing pains, recently defined restless sleep disorder, nocturnal leg cramps, rhythmic movement disorder, bruxism, benign sleep myoclonus in infancy, and propriospinal myoclonus at sleep onset. All of the lat- ter affect either sleep onset or maintenance. Body movements are also observed in nocturnal hypermotor epilepsy and, in children, as disorders of arousal in the context of non-rapid eye movement parasomnias. The latter may manifest as sleepwalking, where movements are less stereotyped compared to those of sleep-related move- ment disorders and involve complex nocturnal behaviours. Most sleep-related move- ment disorders present mimics and may be difficult to correctly identify and address, especially in young children. It is thus imperative that parents receive support and reassurance, professional guidance, and preferably non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies to overcome specific age-related challenges and stigmata.