Restless Legs After 50: What It Means for Your Sleep and Daytime Functioning July 23, 2025 Restless Legs After 50: What It Means for Your Sleep and Daytime Functioning Have you ever felt an uncomfortable, almost irresistible urge to move your legs—especially at night or when you're resting? If so, you might be experiencing Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a condition that becomes more common—and more disruptive—as we get older.1 RLS is a neurological disorder that affects up to 12% of adults, with clinically significant cases (moderate to severe symptoms occurring at least twice a week) affecting nearly 3%.2 It's even more prevalent and severe after the age of 50.2 People with RLS describe a variety of sensations in their legs—tingling, crawling, prickly, itchy, even “wormy” or painful.1 These sensations are usually worse in the evenings or at night, making it hard to relax, fall asleep, or stay asleep.1 You may feel a powerful urge to move your legs to ease the discomfort. Unfortunately, sleep disruption is one of the most frustrating consequences of this condition.3 Sleep loss linked to RLS doesn’t just leave you tired—it can also affect your mood, cognition, and attention.3 Many people with RLS experience daytime sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and reduced quality of life.3 You might notice RLS symptoms during long periods of stillness—sitting through a movie, driving for hours, or trying to fall asleep.2 And while it mostly affects the legs, the arms can occasionally be involved too.2 What Causes RLS? There’s no single cause of RLS. It tends to run in families—up to 50% of people with RLS have a family history.1 It can also occur during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, and typically resolves after childbirth.1 Other potential triggers include low iron levels, kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, and certain medications or lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol use, or excess caffeine.1 Nerve damage in the limbs is another possible cause.1 What Can You Do About It? Thankfully, there are treatments that can help. For milder symptoms, lifestyle changes like reducing caffeine or alcohol, taking a warm bath, or massaging the legs can bring relief.1 Gentle stretching, knee bends, or walking may also settle the urge to move. In more serious cases, your doctor may recommend blood tests to check for underlying causes like iron deficiency—and prescribe medication if needed.1 Certain drugs used for Parkinson’s disease or nerve pain may help ease RLS symptoms, though they can lose effectiveness over time.1 If you’re over 50 and finding it harder to get a good night’s sleep because of restlessness in your legs, don’t brush it off as just part of ageing. RLS is a real and treatable condition. Speak to your doctor—especially if your sleep is being disrupted or you're feeling unusually tired during the day. The right treatment could make a world of difference. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References Sleep Health Foundation. “Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).” Sleephealthfoundation.org.au, 3 Sept. 2024, www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-disorders/restless-legs-syndrome. “Restless Legs Syndrome.” Australian Journal of General Practice, 2023, www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2023/september/restless-legs-syndrome. Eich, Anna-Lena, et al. “Tagesschläfrigkeit Bei Patienten Mit Unbehandeltem Restless-Legs-Syndrom.” Somnologie, 13 Mar. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-024-00455-6.
