The pressure sends messages to your brain, which responds by telling the muscles affected by RLS to relax. This helps relieve your RLS symptoms A study of 30 people using the foot wrap for eight weeks found significant improvements in RLS symptoms and sleep quality It may or may not be covered by your insurance The restiffic foot wrap requires a prescription and an initial monetary investment, but could provide RLS relief by applying pressure on certain points on the bottom of the foot.
In the hospital, a pneumatic compression device PCD is typically used to improve circulation and prevent blood clots. Improved circulation might also be the reason pneumatic compression has been shown to help relieve RLS symptoms Some researchers believe that a cause of RLS is low oxygen levels in the limbs. They think that the body responds to this problem by increasing circulation via the muscle contractions that occur when the person moves their limb Whatever the reason, some research has shown that pneumatic compression can help relieve RLS symptoms.
A study of 35 people who used a PCD for at least an hour every day for a month had markedly improved RLS symptoms, sleep quality, and daytime function. However, other research has not shown the same effects 33 , Some PCDs are rented, and others can be purchased over the counter or with a prescription. A PCD is a non-drug treatment that can be bought over the counter or with a prescription.
It could help relieve RLS symptoms by improving circulation in your legs. Results from research on this device have been conflicted. A vibrating pad called the Relaxis pad may not relieve your RLS symptoms, but it could help you sleep better 4.
You place the pad on the affected area, such as your leg, and set it to the desired vibration intensity. The pad vibrates for 30 minutes and then shuts itself off However, it has been shown to improve sleep In fact, one study found it to be as effective in improving sleep as the four FDA-approved RLS drugs: ropinirole, pramipexole, gabapentin, and rotigotine The Relaxis pad is available only by prescription from your doctor.
It may not treat actual RLS symptoms, but its counterstimulation effects could help you sleep better. This painless treatment is called near-infrared spectroscopy NIRS.
With NIRS, light beams with long wavelengths are used to penetrate the skin. The light causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation One theory posits that RLS is caused by low oxygen levels in the affected area. Several studies have found this treatment effective. Both circulation and RLS symptoms showed significant improvement Another showed that people treated with twelve minute treatments of NIRS over four weeks also had significantly reduced symptoms of RLS.
Symptoms were improved up to four weeks after treatment ended A NIRS device could cost several hundred dollars, but the long-lasting effects of this noninvasive treatment could be worth the investment.
The above treatments have some research to support their use. Other treatments have less evidence, but may still work for some people with RLS.
They include the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation These organizations suggest taking a hot or cold bath before going to bed, or applying hot or cold packs to your legs This could explain the benefits of these hot or cold treatments. So far, studies have been limited and more research is needed, but the results are promising 4 , 41 , Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS sends magnetic impulses to certain areas of the brain.
One theory is that the impulses increase the release of dopamine in the brain. The sessions significantly improved their RLS symptoms and improved their sleep. The results lasted for at least two months after the treatment ended Show references Restless legs syndrome. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed Nov.
Ondo WG. Clinical features and diagnosis of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults. Silber MH. Treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults. Garcia-Borreguero D, et al. Sleep Medicine. Winkelman JW, et al. Practice guideline summary: Treatment of restless legs syndrome in adults — Report of the guideline development, dissemination and implementation subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Silber MH, et al. The appropriate use of opioids in the treatment of refractory restless legs syndrome.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Trenkwalder, et al. Comorbidities, treatment and pathophysiology in restless legs syndrome. The Lancet Neurology. Restless legs syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. Riggin EA. It is also linked to pregnancy. Around 20 percent of women experience RLS during the last trimester of pregnancy, although the reasons are unclear.
In people with PLMD, the limbs twitch or jerk uncontrollably while sleeping. It is also considered a type of sleeping disorder. The movement may cause the individual to wake up frequently during the night, and this can undermine the quality and length of sleep. It can lead to RLS. Sleep hygiene is important, as tiredness makes symptoms worse. Exercise and physical activity can help RLS, but it can also aggravate it.
Most patients find moderate exercise helpful, but too much can make symptoms worse. Working out late in the evening may also be unhelpful. In , a small study of 10 people found that magnesium reduced the symptoms of insomnia in people with RLS, and suggested that may be a useful treatment for people with PLMD.
However, the study considers magnesium investigational. People with kidney disease should be cautious with intake of magnesium. Magnesium is available in whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables. Some people find that spraying magnesium oil onto the affected part can help, but this should not be used without first asking a doctor.
Studies into the effects of vitamin D on RLS have produced mixed results. Some link high Vitamin D with fewer symptoms, while others suggest that additional vitamin D is linked to a higher incidence during the summer months.
Staying hydrated may also help. Berkowski, restless legs syndrome is mostly a sensation problem with your brain, not your legs. But those issues do affect the muscles and nerves in your legs. Certain prescription medications can relieve RLS symptoms, including anti-seizure medications. But there are also several things you can do at home to help relieve these symptoms. Heated or cooled pads, often used to relieve swelling caused by injuries and other conditions, have a long history as a home remedy.
Berkowski says they can be effective by creating a new sensation for the brain to process, reducing the uncomfortable sensation produced by restless legs syndrome. You can buy an inexpensive cold or warm compress at a store, but the simplest way to make one is to soak fabric in cold or warm water and place it against your skin.
Because the issue with RLS is how it originates in your brain, the key factor is distracting those impulses coming from your brain. A hot bath or shower provides two stages of relief, he adds. Another way to help your brain focus on other sensations would be compression wraps.
Berkowski says. Even rubbing or massaging the legs can provide temporary relief.
0コメント