Aerobic And Strength Training Exercises For Restless Leg Syndrome In Patients With Diabetes

Overview

The aim of this research is to find and compare the effect of aerobic exercises and strength training exercise on RLS severity in diabetic patient. Randomized controlled trials done at Physical therapy department of Pakistan Railway general hospital, Rawalpindi. The sample size was 38.The subjects were divided into two groups, 19 subjects in the aerobic physical therapy group and in 19 strength group. Study duration was of 6 months. Sampling technique applied was Simple randomization via computer-generated random numbers. Only 40-60 years individual with restless leg syndrome in 5 years old diabetic history included. Tools used in the study are International Restless Leg Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale: (an International tool for finding the severity of RLS), The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Data was be analyzed through SPSS 21.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common, underdiagnosed neurological movement disorder of undetermined aetiology. RLS is a collective sensory-motor neural condition that is described by deep restlessness, unpleasant creeping/crawling perceptions profound inside the lower limbs and sleep disturbance, accompanied by a need to move the limb often at bedtime. Usually, the sensory-motor complaints of Restless Leg Syndrome arise or aggravate nocturnally, presenting a day-to-day pattern. These sensations typically occur before sleep onset and cause sleep disturbance in patients. Restless leg syndrome is associated with different conditions including diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, pregnancy, uremia, iron deficiency, hypertension and coronary heart diseases. The Pathophysiology of restless leg syndrome is not clear. Firstly, it was thought to be peripheral nerve disorder, later in last two eras, the authors agreed that origin of Restless Leg Syndrome is in Central Nervous System and there is variation in complex combination between CNS and PNS structures. There is an unusual sensory-motor combination and boosted spinal cord impulsiveness. The positive outcomes of the dopaminergic treatment show that restless leg syndrome may be caused by dopamine dysfunction and iron deficiency in CNS. Prevalence of RLS was found 27%. One of the most important risk factors of RLS is diabetes. According to a study by in 2019 stated Diabetes type 2 prevalence is 80.0%. Various Studies on Restless Leg Syndrome in diabetes is conducted showing a significant association between RLS and type 2 diabetes. A study was done in Saudi Arabia reported that RLS can affect diabetic patients and it is important to treat RLS, for even better diabetes control. Prevalence of RLS in diabetic patient is 28.6%. Mostly RLS is mixed with other sleep disorder known as a periodic limb movement disorder. Restless leg syndrome also causes strong sleep disturbances (e.g., chronic insomnia, sleep apnea) which have a major impact on health and quality of life, its adverse impact can usually be reversed by on-time diagnosis and treatment. The primary treatments for restless legs syndrome are pharmacological but recently non-pharmacological treatment is being used. A single-blinded RCT was done in 2013 on the physical therapy management of restless leg syndrome in hemodialysis patients stated progressive exercise training program appears to be a safe and effective approach in reducing RLS symptom severity in HD patients. It seems that exercise-induced adaptations to the whole body are mostly responsible for the reduction in RLS severity score. Another study in 2016 was done in which it was reported that muscle stretching exercise seems to be very effective and can reduce RLS symptoms. A 12-week trial in restless leg syndrome patient. The exercise group was prescribed a conditioning program of the aerobic and control group was prescribed lower-body resistance training, both groups had a positive effect on decreasing severity but the exercise group had a significant improvement in symptoms compared with the control group. Diabetes is one of the most prevalent risk factors of "Restless leg syndrome" but unluckily there were limited studies done here in Pakistan for severity control. Our study differs from other literature in sense of its an RCT investigator is trying to find out better treatment option by comparing two treatments (aerobic training and strengthening exercise) for diabetic patients suffering from restless leg syndrome.