Insights & Discussion
Standard acupuncture was significantly more effective for restless legs syndrome severity than control conditions.
The current management of restless leg syndrome is primarily pharmacological, and medications can have unwanted side effects.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, exercise, compression devices, counterstrain manipulation, infrared therapy, and standard acupuncture may reduce restless leg syndrome severity.
Vibration pads, cryotherapy, yoga, compression devices, and acupuncture may improve some sleep-related outcomes in restless leg syndrome.
Non-pharmacological interventions for RLS may cause placebo effects and rehabilitation professionals should control for this possibility in future investigations.
Discover Related Insights
The traditional Chinese herbal medicine Shaoyao Gancao Tang (SG-Tang) may be an effective and safe alternative treatment to relieve Restless Leg Syndrome.
2023 Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods Efficacy and safety of Shaoyao Gancao Tang for restless leg syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis Tian Z, Li R, Wei J, Huai W, Xia J, Jiang H, et al.
Meta-Analysis Restless Legs Syndrome Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
The methodology used for this study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and safety of SG-Tang treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome. Databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Information Database were searched. The primary and secondary outcome measurements looked at were the total effective rate, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale for Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the incidence of adverse events.
The results of the study indicated that SG-Tang treatment led to significant improvements compared to conventional medications; it increased the total effective rate and lifted scores on the Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome and Sleep Quality Indices, while also lessening the incidence of adverse events. However, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to the limited data and the methodological quality of the included studies.
The severity of primary restless legs syndrome symptoms can be significantly ameliorated by acupuncture.
2017 Sleep Medicine Reviews Complementary and alternative therapies for restless legs syndrome: An evidence-based systematic review Xu XM, Liu Y, Jia SY, Dong MX, Cao D, Wei YD.
Systematic Review Insomnia Restless Legs Syndrome
Complementary and alternative therapies have been found to be effective in both primary and secondary restless legs syndrome (RLS). The severity of primary RLS symptoms can be significantly ameliorated by exercise training, transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, pneumatic compression devices, light therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and acupuncture. Pneumatic compression devices and yoga also improve RLS-related disorders. Exercise training is highly efficacious in the reduction of symptom severity in uremic RLS and related effects such as poor quality of life. Endovenous laser ablation may be a good choice for patients with concurrent RLS and superficial venous insufficiency.
The combination of acupuncture and a low dose of gabapentin (300 mg/d) is clinically effective in treating restless legs syndrome and has an additional therapeutic benefit compared to gabapentin alone.
2017 Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Evaluation of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial Raissi GR, Forogh B, Ahadi T, Ghahramanpoori S, Ghaboussi P, Sajadi S
Randomised Controlled Trial Restless Legs Syndrome
The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of medical acupuncture as an additional treatment to gabapentin for controlling restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms. Forty-six RLS patients were randomly assigned to either receive 10 sessions of acupuncture plus gabapentin or gabapentin alone over four weeks, with their symptoms assessed before, immediately after, and eight weeks after treatment. Results showed that the experimental group had significantly better improvements in VAS, IRLSRS, and PSQI compared to the control group. After the treatment, both groups had significant improvements in VAS and IRLSRS, while only the experimental group had a significant improvement in PSQI.