Exercise and restless legs syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common, underdiagnosed neurological movement disorder of undetermined etiology. The primary treatments for restless legs syndrome are pharmacological. To date, no randomized controlled trials have examined the effectiveness of an exercise program on the symptoms of RLS.


METHODS
Study participants (N = 41) were randomized to either exercise or control groups. 28 participants (average age 53.7; 39% males) were available and willing to begin the 12-week trial. The exercise group was prescribed a conditioning program of aerobic and lower-body resistance training 3 days per week. Restless legs symptoms were assessed by the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) severity scale and an ordinal scale of RLS severity at the beginning of the trial, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Twenty-three participants completed the trial. At the end of the 12 weeks, the exercise group (N = 11) had a significant improvement in symptoms compared with the control group (N = 12) (P = .001 for the IRLSSG severity scale and P < .001 for the ordinal scale).


CONCLUSIONS
The prescribed exercise program was effective in improving the symptoms of RLS.
Aukerman
Melissa McManama
MM
Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA.
Aukerman
Douglas
D
Bayard
Max
M
Tudiver
Fred
F
Thorp
Lydia
L
Bailey
Beth
B
D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome