MS and Restless Legs Syndrome: Can Exercise Help?
[ad_1]
People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to have a significantly higher incidence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) than the general population. According to the National MS Society, a quarter of people with MS may experience it.
Restless legs syndrome is a common neurological sleep and movement disorder that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs because of sensations that may be described as creeping, crawling, itching, aching, etc. Some people have trouble finding the words to describe what they’re feeling.
There are, as one would expect, pharmaceutical treatments for RLS, but am I the only one who doesn’t want to add another tablet (or injection or infusion or …) to my regime of medicines and supplements?
RELATED: 5 Restless Legs Syndrome Triggers
Non-Pharmacological Ways of Treating RLS
A study published this past July suggests that there may be a non-pharmacological way of dealing with RLS that works, and works at least as well as medication.
The researchers started with a pretty frank assessment of RLS, stating that it “can have a significant detrimental impact on the quality of life and sleep.” Yup, that’s RLS.
Sedentary lifestyles can worsen symptoms. Despite its common occurrence, restless legs syndrome is often insufficiently treated, with potential adverse effects from pharmaceutical options.
This study looked at aerobic and stretching exercise programs to see if they might have a positive effect on the symptoms of RLS.
The study was not a large one: “A total of 18 patients between the ages of 22 and 61 were randomly divided into 3 groups as aerobic exercise, stretching exercises, and control.”
Nonetheless, the researchers found significant improvement in symptoms in both the exercise and stretching groups, with aerobic exercises being more effective in reducing waking after sleep onset, whereas stretching exercises had beneficial effects on sleep disorders.
It was concluded that both interventions were highly effective approaches and that such practices should be considered for people experiencing sleep difficulties as a result of RLS.
RELATED: 8 Tips for Better Exercise if You Have Restless Legs Syndrome
What Have I Got to Lose by Trying?
While I don’t know if it’s my MS spastic bladder, restless legs, or just aging dogs that wake me two or three times a night (the dogs sleep on our bed, so it is possible that my jumpy legs may be what wakes them, thus waking me). But I’m going to look into the exercises and stretches that showed so much improvement in the sleep patterns of the subjects.
It must be noted that this was not an MS-specific study. In fact, it was published by the journal supported by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, and the cause of restless legs syndrome in the enrolled subjects was not disclosed.
But whatever the cause of RLS, this study shows hope for those of us with MS and RLS. Too many letters behind our names these days, methinks.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Cheers,
Trevis
My book Chef Interrupted is available on Amazon. Follow me on the Life With MS Facebook page, and read more on Life With Multiple Sclerosis.
[ad_2]
