Comparison of two infrared devices in their effectiveness in reducing symptoms associated with RLS.
This study was conducted to assess whether two kinds of near-infrared light devices, using different wavelengths and frequencies, impact symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS) differently. A recent randomized controlled study showed that symptoms associated with RLS can be diminished with near-infrared light treatment for a limited time. We wanted to assess whether different wavelengths and frequencies had an impact on its effectiveness. Twenty-five volunteers with symptoms of RLS were randomly assigned to either Anodyne® or HealthLight™ treatment. Both groups underwent 12 treatments with near-infrared light, three times a week for 4 weeks. A validated RLS rating scale was used to track changes. The two groups were not different in reported symptoms at baseline (p=0.37) and after 4 weeks of treatment (p=0.88). There was a significant improvement of symptoms between week 0 and week 4 (p<0.001); the difference in change indicated virtually the same improvement between the two groups. Although the two near-infrared light devices used different wavelengths and frequencies and one device used additional red light, they both produced significant improvement in the symptoms associated with RLS after 4 weeks of treatment.
Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. rike_mitchell@byu.edu
Ulrike H
UH
Mitchell
A Wayne
AW
Johnson
Bill
B
Myrer
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014589:Utah