Efficacy of neuromuscular electric stimulation versus aerobic exercise on uraemic restless legs syndrome

Abstract

Background The prevalence of restless legs syndrome in haemodialysis patients is approximately ~30%, and it is significantly higher than in the general population. Restless legs syndrome is a sensory-motor disorder with negative effects on sleep and daytime activities that affect personal, family and occupational life. The overall impact of restless legs syndrome on quality of life is comparable to that of chronic and frustrating conditions such as depression and diabetes. The present study was conducted to compare the effect of neuromuscular electric stimulation with aerobic exercise on cases of uraemic restless legs syndrome. Methods A total of 60 chronic renal failure patients with uraemic restless legs syndrome aged 20 to 65 years participated in this study. Participants were allocated to receive neuromuscular electric stimulation or aerobic exercises. All participants were evaluated before the first session of treatment and after 3 months, at the end of the treatment. Normal and fast walk gait speed tests and the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test and 60 second Sit-to-Stand Test were used to assess participants' physical status. The Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale was used to determine the level of restless legs syndrome severity. Results Neuromuscular electric stimulation resulted in significant improvements in all measures of physical performance and in Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale score when compared to baseline. Aerobic exercise produced significant improvements in all tests. At the end of the study, aerobic exercise had greater responses than neuromuscular electric stimulation in all parameters measured except the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test. Conclusions Neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be used as an alternative to aerobic exercise to improve physical performance in cases of less severe restless legs syndrome in those unable or unwilling to participate in physical training.

Effect of exercise in obese diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease

“…TUG, 6MWT, and gait speed are more accurate predictors of kidney function and 3-year mortality than serum biomarkers. For these reasons, we chose aerobic and exercises for the lower limbs, as lower limbs have large groups of muscles which allow being an active person, as well as preventing frailty, sarcopenia and its consequences, and restless leg syndrome [25]. in this study, TUG improved in the aerobic group by 13.8%, STS5 improved by ( ) 25.07%, and STS60 improved by ( ) 68.7%.…”

Physical Exercise Intervention In Reducing The Severity Level Of Restless Leg Syndrome In Hemodialysis Patients: Literature Review

“…Fauzi's study (2021) describes stretching exercises performed two times a week for eight weeks with the duration for each session for 15 minutes with ankle plantar flexion movements, gastrocnemius stretches, soleus stretches, hamstring stretches, and quadriceps stretches. In the study of Manal (2019), the mild stretching methods used were range of motion exercises, hip flexion and extension, knee flexion and extension, ankle dorsi and plantar flexion.…”

“…The muscle shrinkage occurs due to the limitations in routine activities that are mostly spent in hemodialysis sessions (Aliasgharpour et al, 2016). In HD patients it is associated with a high risk of mortality, due to changes in muscle structure with increased oxygen supply to tissues, greater vascular endothelial production factors, increased protein synthesis, inhibition of myostatin and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (Manal, 2019).…”