Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 20, 2025
Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
Usefulness of electronic stimulation in restless legs syndrome: a pilot study
Yong Won Cho1, Yeong Seon Lee1, Jeonghun Ku2
1Department of Neurology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
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.
