Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in professional cyclists

Introduction Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder affecting a significant part of general population. Clinically RLS is characterized by abnormal sensations of irresistible urge to move legs, becoming worse at night, and frequently causing insomnia. Consequences of RLS include daytime dysfunction, depressed mood, anxiety and decreased quality of life. Objectives Determine prevalence of RLS in professional cyclists. Aims The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of RLS in professional cyclists. According to our knowledge this is the first research of RLS in professional cyclists. Methods A total of 43 professional cyclists were asked to complete 4-item questionnaire based on IRLSSG Diagnostic Criteria for RLS. Data from questionnaire was compared to antropometric measurements, epidemiologic data, age of starting trainings and total years of professional performance. Results The results indicated that prevalence of RLS in professional cyclists is 14% and is higher than expected in this age group. We found statistically significant relationship between RLS and age ( P P Table 1 ). Conclusions RLS seems to be a common problem in professional cyclists. It can affect sport performance. Future efforts to estimate the influence of RLS on professional sport performance should be considered.