Restless Leg Syndrome

[Marketa]

I have a client that with restless leg syndrome. This is not the reason why he is coming for massage, but was wondering if massage would help.

The only research I could find was one study that said massage was as effective as medication for RLS but it was using 45 minute leg massage 2x per week.

I only see this client once a week, and he has other issues that require more attention. I don't usually get to spend more than 15-20 minutes on legs.

Has anyone has any success with this or any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[rare pokemon hunter]

Joyful Qi,

Just read elsewhere today, cannot find it now of course, that individuals with a more shuffling gait tend to have more problems with RLS than the rest of the population. Then followed a suggestion for supplements, calcium-magnesium-zinc [in combination] and one or two other supps I cannot remember to aid in relieving the "jumpiness". Will try to find the article and get back to you ASAP.

But, with that article in mind, does your client have a "shuffley" gait? You know the kind where, if you were a mom you'd be yelling, "PICK UP YOUR FEET ALREADY!" My hubby tends to have, as he calls it, "the jumps" when he's been walking a lot and he shuffles, not walks. I find that his adductors are hellish tight, the hips are less than flexible at the trochanters and the backs of the knees are tight as well. MAYBE, if you checked some of those locations you might find something that you could work on to see if that would be of any assistance for your client.


FWIW

 

[tehe :)]

Hi,

This is my first post to the forum. I've wondered about restless leg syndrome for years. As a practitioner I've had a handful of clients over the years who have had RLS during the treatment, but always while in supine, and almost always occurring in one leg only. Occasionally extra weight (folded towels, rice packs, etc.) placed on the leg will help control twitches, but nothing has worked for every client every time.

I, myself, have also experienced this while getting massages or facials. I find that removing the bolster from underneath my knees often helps, as does rotating my knees outward (frog stretch) or otherwise adjusting my hip and knee angles. But even this relief is often short-lived.

Currently I have a client with the worst RLS I've come across. None of my tricks offer her relief, and surprisingly she also suffers while lying prone and while the affected leg is being massaged - two situations I've never encountered.

I'm willing to try any suggestions you could offer (for my client and for myself!)

Regarding AnastasiaB's post, I wouldn't consider that I, or my client, have a shuffley gait. In my own case, I'm pretty consistent with postural/structural stretches and getting my own bodywork so I don't think a walking gait is a factor in these instances.

 

[james h]

Link #7 on the research page of my website lists a study that show positive effects of massage and MFR on restless leg syndrome. Check it out.
http://www.myofascialpainrelief.com/MFRresearch.html

 

[cshs1960]

does your client have a "shuffley" gait?

No, the client does not have a shuffley gait, but thanks AnstasiaB for the info on the nutritional supplements. I will research it a little more.

WaltFritz that for the link, the site is great - but link #7 is inactive. Either way it is a great weath of info!

I will try the different bolster techniques too, thanks. If I find anything the works really well I will post it.

Thanks All!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Try as I might, I have been totally unable to locate the article I read. Will find it someday, I hope........

 

[kittyluvrs18]

Joyful_Qi
Thanks for the heads up. I found the abstract which should now be active. No full text available out there right now.

 

[Unicornrider]

Restless Leg Syndrome falls under the category of sleep disorders according to Ruth Werner. Any sleep disorder benefits from a relaxing massage like Swedish.

 

[zoetodman]

Restless Leg Syndrome falls under the category of sleep disorders according to Ruth Werner. Any sleep disorder benefits from a relaxing massage like Swedish

Thanks so much! That is perfect, with the other issues I am addressing with this client swedish is all I can really do.

 

[Preggo]

You're welcome. If you have any more questions please ask. I teach and specialize in pathology.

 

[mjk]

Hi,
My husband has RLS and his gets really bad when he has air blowing on his legs or if they get cold. Keep his legs warm and covered up as much as possible.

 

[Pompal 09.]

LMT w/ Restless leg

Hi Everyone,


Found the site last night & this is my first post. Sorry its so long but I hope this helps. I have been in a series of car accidents, diagnosed with 2 "possible" herniated disks, thoracic outlet syndrome, a hyper mobile sacrum, sciatica, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome & TMJ over the last 10 years. For me the RLS comes & goes as a priority for treatment when getting massage. It does not always hurt so it often gets moved to the bottom of the list. I no longer use the meds for treatment of RLS & rely on massage as needed. The meds made me really groggy.

The original post stated that the client was not seeking treatment for the RLS but had other issues going on. When speaking to other therapists I find that RLS often makes therapists feel they need to address the RLS in some way, you don't. Just try to make your client comfortable (phys & emot.). For many RLS sufferers it is a secondary condition & by treating the other conditions you are still treating the RLS.

This is what I have found to help myself:

During the session if the leg needs to twitch. let it. The pain often comes when the leg can't move, the twitching itself doesn't actually always hurt (for me) but not being able to move is when the pain starts. Clients may try to stop their leg from twitching, by tightening their muscles so as not to distract you as a therapist, this makes the pain worse. Let them, let go.

Stretching, stretching, stretching!!! Stretch your client's legs every which way you can. This has helped me with the pain. Just watch your head, I've had clients twitch & almost kick me in the face....

Polarity Therapy has been really helpful for me. I think this is partly because during the session, twitching is welcome as it is interpreted as an energetic release, instead of RLS. At the end of a session my legs calm down & don't twitch through the night. They can go crazy during the session, I can relax & I don't try to control it or make it stop. Just the connotation of "twitching" in this instance, helps me relax.

Eastern vs Western Massage: there always seems to be a fine line here for me when my legs are sore. I want deep tissue but can't take it and then gentle light effluerage makes my legs more sensitive. Deeper, slower effluerage feels better. Circular effluerage on the quads & hams has always felt great. I generally don't like tapotement but in this instance it makes my legs feel better. Swedish in general can sometimes be frustrating to me & the therapist to find the right pressure. Shiatsu has always felt good. Palming, thumbing, stretching & a little energetic work thrown in, feels fab.

Foot Work: I usually do it near the beginning of a massage and sometimes it helps. The twitching may occur more during the foot work but then it seems to subside for the rest of the massage.


Michelle Kelly Dillon L.M.T.

 

[Lizzi(:]

More RLS

The mention of MFR is great. MFR has definitely helped me. The feeling of the slow stretch is heaven. The twitching causes the ms to constantly contract, lengthening the ms & fascia is great.

I also just wanted to mention that when speaking with other sufferers of RLS they have sometimes given up on massage because they are embarrassed that their legs twitch during the session. They say they can't relax because they are trying to keep their legs from twitching. The twitching tends to be the more obvious issue to the therapist because it can be seen. Therapists sometimes lose focus on what the client came in to treat so the client will for go getting a massage to treat other ailments. Remember to let your clients know that twitching is ok & focus on what they need at that moment.

MKD

 

[The physician]

Michelle,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your helpful post. I'll try your suggestions and see what happens.

Take care.

 

[citrine_dream]

Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, attributes this to magnesium deficiency.
"Magnesium Miracle"
http://www.carolyndean.com

 

[Eric Madison]

I've found that MFR locally, in the affected areas, as well as more global MFR works great. Bilateral leg traction taps into the legs but also up into the pelvis and spine. Dural tube releases, both/either from the head or sacrum are helpful as well.

 

[Lisa V]

I have had RLS for as long as I can remember. My mother even recalls me at 10 or so, with twitchy legs during movies. She'd ask what was going on and I'd tell her my legs just felt like they had to move. Apparently I had an unusually young onset. The past few years, it has been driving me nuts. I'll have to get up and walk for hours to be able to sleep. Even when I was getting massages every day in school, it was bad and I had a hard time laying on my back for half the massage. I told my classmates to just ignore it, it wasn't anything they were doing.

Due to menstruation issues, my doc did a full battery of bloodwork, and everything came back normal even to the hemoglobin. But in doing more detective work, it was discovered that my ferratin levels were low. It's related to hemoglobin but it's the body's ability to store iron rather than just iron levels. I'm now on ferrous sulfate rather than just iron and it has changed my life. I haven't had RLS since a week after I started it. I also had other symptoms, seemingly unconnected such as a burning tongue. I know you can't prescribe medicine but it might benefit your patient to get a complete CBC/CMP/thyroid panel **as well as** ferritin levels checked. They don't routinely do ferritin levels so he might have to specifically ask for it. Another cause of RLS can be deficient magnesium levels, although those supplements didn't do much for me. As much as I love massage, even regular ones didn't seem to help. The ferrous sulfate has been a godsend and it's an inexpensive OTC med.