Foot ‘wrap’ that could relieve restless legs
A SIMPLE foot ‘wrap’ could help millions of Britons who suffer from ‘restless legs syndrome’ sleep better.
In tests, the bandage-like device was more effective than drugs at relieving the maddening condition. Sufferers experience a crawling sensation in their legs, which is eased by moving them. Patients reported a ‘vast’ improvement in their health – and got almost two hours more sleep a night.
The US researchers said the Restiffic wrap could be an alternative to the powerful pills currently used to help people blighted by restless legs. Importantly, it is free of the nausea, dizziness and other potentially dangerous side-effects associated with these medicines.
Up to one in ten Britons suffers from restless legs syndrome, with women twice as likely to be affected as men.
The pain is worst at night and leaves people restless in bed when awake and jerking their legs repeatedly when asleep. This isn’t just exhausting, it raises the risk of anxiety, depression, heart attacks and strokes.
The condition runs in families and while the causes aren’t clear, it is thought an imbalance of brain chemicals is involved.
Drugs, including some that affect the brain chemical dopamine, can help. However, sideeffects including sudden sleepiness mean they aren’t suitable for many people.
Now, following tests involving 30 men and women with moderate to severe symptoms, the foot wrap is being put forward as a safer alternative. The subjects who wore the wrap told doctors at the Lake Erie Research Institute in Pennsylvania that their symptoms were greatly eased.
Effectively a high-tech pressure bandage, it wraps around the foot and is secured in place by a system of hooks and straps. It works by applying constant pressure to two key muscles. This not only relaxes them, it tells the brain to relax muscles in the legs, and may help rebalance dopamine levels.
Ninety per cent said they felt ‘ very much better’ – making the device 40 per cent better than medication. They also slept better, with sleep loss down from an average of two hours a night at the start of the study to just 20 minutes, the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association reports.
Study lead author Dr Phyllis Kuhn said: ‘It’s a near perfect example of the body regulating itself without drugs.’
The Restiffic wraps are currently only available in the US – at around £260 a pair – but the manufacturers hope to make them available in Britain soon.
Mild cases of restless legs syndrome can often be managed by making lifestyle changes, including cutting down on alcohol and coffee and increasing levels of exercise.