Usefulness of electronic stimulation in restless legs syndrome: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of electronic stimulation (ES) as a non-pharmacological treatment in restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Methods

This is a randomized, single-blind study. A total of 46 patients were included, consisting of an active group and a sham group with 22 and 24 members, respectively. The stimulation was administered to bilateral lower legs using the tapping mode (3 Hz) on a handheld ES device, and symptom changes were measured in both groups. The effects of the stimuli were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

The symptom severity was significantly reduced in the active group, and showed significant interaction effects in the time * group (F = 4.441, p = 0.031). Although both the active and sham groups reported improved symptoms upon receiving longer periods of treatment, the effect of the ES was greater in the active group.

Conclusions

ES treatment resulted in symptom improvement when using ideal levels of stimulation intensity. ES can be considered as a non-pharmacological treatment option for RLS.

Keywords:

• Restless legs syndrome
• Low frequency electronic stimulation
• Non-pharmacological treatment

Disclosure statement

This is not an industry supported study. None of the authors have potential conflicts of interest to be disclosed. All authors have seen and approved the manuscript.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.