Sleep myoclonus is one of the disorders that causes difficulty in sleeping. This condition refers to spasms or involuntary twitches in muscles or muscle groups. These twitches are similar to when we hiccup, which is a type of myoclonus that affects the diaphragm muscles.
Generally, there are 2 types of myoclonus, namely positive (involving muscle contractions) and negative (involving muscle relaxation and loss of muscle tone). People who experience sleep myoclonus often have difficulty sleeping or worsened sleep quality, resulting in excessive daytime fatigue.
When this occurs during sleep, the jerks will happen randomly. In healthy individuals, this is not a problem and therefore not a cause for concern, as long as it does not affect sleep quality. However, if the frequency is higher or extends to other areas, it may indicate certain neurological disorders.
(Sleep myoclonus refers to involuntary muscle spasms that disrupt sleep)
Symptoms
Symptoms of sleep myoclonus occur when a person is almost asleep or already asleep. This causes sudden jerks, spasms, or involuntary twitches in one muscle or several muscle groups for a short period. The characteristics include:
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Sudden jerks in the arms, legs, or body
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Brief and involuntary muscle spasms
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Short-lived, sudden, and varying intensity and frequency of muscle spasms
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Spasms occurring in specific muscle areas or spreading
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Happening once or several times in succession
(Muscle shock is sudden, random, brief, and varies in intensity and frequency)
Causes
The exact cause of sleep myoclonus is unknown, but it is often associated with a condition called sleep atonia (muscle paralysis when someone is in deep sleep). However, there are predicted possibilities as to why this condition occurs and they differ among age groups:
1. In Infants and Children
The causes of sleep myoclonus in children include sleep disorders, Pediatric Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), Rhythmic Movement Disorder (RMD) commonly found in children with ADHD or autism, epilepsy, high fever, infections, tumors, and brain or spinal cord trauma.
2. In Adults and Elderly
In adults, sleep myoclonus can be caused by Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s Disease, certain medications, stroke, trauma, kidney failure, liver failure, infections, or cancer. Meanwhile, in the elderly, it may be due to Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
(One of the causes of sleep myoclonus is due to neurological problems)
Treatment
If sleep myoclonus occurs due to underlying issues, those issues must first be addressed to alleviate the symptoms of these unwanted muscle spasms. However, if the cause is unknown, the doctor will manage the symptoms. Some strategies that can help with sleep myoclonus are:
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Anticonvulsant and anti-seizure medications
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Sedatives
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Botulinum toxin (Botox)
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Stretching or massaging the affected muscle area
So, sleep myoclonus refers to involuntary jerks in muscles or muscle groups. This condition disrupts a person's sleep, ultimately leading to worsened sleep quality. If you experience muscle spasms or twitches at a high frequency, it's advisable to consult a doctor to determine the cause.
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