Feasibility and efficacy of a physical activity intervention for managing restless legs syndrome in multiple sclerosis: Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial

This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and efficacy of a physical activity behavior change intervention for improving restless legs syndrome (RLS) severity and secondary sleep outcomes among a sample of adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Participants with MS(N=15) were randomly assigned into intervention(n=8) or waitlist control(n=7) conditions. The physical activity intervention was delivered over a 16-week period and outcomes were assessed at baseline and immediately following the 16-week period in both conditions.

There was a significant, positive effect of the intervention on overall RLS severity (p=.01;η_ρ²=.43), severity during the night(p=.03,η_ρ²=.35), severity during the day while resting(p=.01,η_ρ²=.44), and severity during the day while active(p<.01,η_ρ²=.61), and non-significant improvements in RLS severity while falling asleep (p=.33,η_ρ²=.09). There were significant positive effects on sleep satisfaction(p<.01,η_ρ²=.49) and non-significant improvements in self-reported global sleep quality(p=.35,η_ρ²=.08). There was a significant intervention effect on self-reported time in bed(p=.03,η_ρ²=.37) and total sleep time(p=.03,η_ρ²=.36), and non-significant improvements in self-reported sleep latency (p=.08,η_ρ²=.25), sleep efficiency(p=.27,η_ρ²=.11), and daytime sleepiness (p=.52,η_ρ²=.04;p=.35,η_ρ²=.08;p=.51,η_ρ²=.04). There was no significant effect of the intervention on device-measured sleep quality.

We provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of a physical activity intervention for reducing RLS severity and potentially improving self-reported sleep outcomes in adults with MS. CLINICALTRIALS.

NCT04061681.