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• Leg stereotypy syndrome
  Helio A. Ghizoni Teive, Gustavo da cunha Ribas and Renato Puppi Munhoz
  Published on: 30 January 2018

• Published on: 30 January 2018

  Leg stereotypy syndrome

  • Helio A. Ghizoni Teive, Professor of Neurology Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
  • Other Contributors:
    • Gustavo da cunha Ribas, Neurologist
    • Renato Puppi Munhoz, Professor of Neurology

  We read with great interest the research paper published recently by Lotia et al. entitled “Leg stereotypy syndrome: phenomenology and prevalence”. 1 The study brings important new information about an intriguing newly identified condition, previously designated by the same group as leg stereotypy disorder2, defined as repetitive, rhythmical, stereotypic leg movements, particularly noticeable while sitting.1,2 The authors describe the phenomenology and prevalence of leg stereotypy syndrome (LSS) by evaluating a total of 92 individuals, 57 from the general population (control group) and 35 with different movement disorders (Parkinson´s disease, restless legs syndrome, Tourette´s syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia).1 LSS was found in 7% of the control group and 17% of the movement disorders group, concluding that in terms of prevalence, this is a common condition.1 Another interesting finding was that all but one (83 %) of the patients with LSS from the movement disorders group also had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).1 Lotia and colleagues do not believe in a relationship between ADHD and LSS1 stating in the discussion that “while certain movements or fidgetiness can be observed in individuals with anxiety or ADHD, the presence of typical stereotyped movements has not been previously described with ADHD”.1 Our group is currently studying the frequency of abnormal involuntary movements in patients with ADHD, compared a control group, and our pre...

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  We read with great interest the research paper published recently by Lotia et al. entitled “Leg stereotypy syndrome: phenomenology and prevalence”. 1 The study brings important new information about an intriguing newly identified condition, previously designated by the same group as leg stereotypy disorder2, defined as repetitive, rhythmical, stereotypic leg movements, particularly noticeable while sitting.1,2 The authors describe the phenomenology and prevalence of leg stereotypy syndrome (LSS) by evaluating a total of 92 individuals, 57 from the general population (control group) and 35 with different movement disorders (Parkinson´s disease, restless legs syndrome, Tourette´s syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia).1 LSS was found in 7% of the control group and 17% of the movement disorders group, concluding that in terms of prevalence, this is a common condition.1 Another interesting finding was that all but one (83 %) of the patients with LSS from the movement disorders group also had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).1 Lotia and colleagues do not believe in a relationship between ADHD and LSS1 stating in the discussion that “while certain movements or fidgetiness can be observed in individuals with anxiety or ADHD, the presence of typical stereotyped movements has not been previously described with ADHD”.1 Our group is currently studying the frequency of abnormal involuntary movements in patients with ADHD, compared a control group, and our preliminary results have demonstrated that legs and foot stereotypies are actually very common in patients with ADHD (30 % ) (Teive et al., unpublished data). In fact, lower limbs stereotypies, such as fidgeting and foot movements (crossed-knee jiggle and uni or bilateral toe tap) was previously characterized by Wender, as a suggestive sign of ADHD in adult patients, often referred to as Wender´s sign.3 We believe that these findings may contribute to the understanding and phenomenological characterization of the new neurological syndrome described by Lotia et al.
  References:
  1. Lotia M, York MK, Strutt AM, Jankovic J. Leg stereotypy syndrome: phenomenology and prevalence. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2018; 0: 1-4. Doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-317057
  2. Jankovic J. Leg stereotypy disorder. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016; 87: 220-221.
  3. Wender PH. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults. Oxford University Press, New York, 1995, pp. 23

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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