Highlights
- •Exergaming effectively reduces RLS severity in RLS-positive pwMS.
- •The effects of exergaming on RLS severity were maintained during 8-week follow-up.
- •Exergaming is an effective method for sleep-related outcomes in RLS-positive pwMS.
Abstract
Background
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory-motor disorder characterized by an uncomfortable
sensation in the lower extremity, triggered by sitting and lying positions and release
with motion. There is strong evidence that RLS prevalence is higher in persons with
multiple sclerosis (MS, pwMS) than in the general population. Current literature has
shown that exergaming as non-pharmacological therapy may be an effective method for
symptoms such as balance, walking, fatigue, cognitive functions in pwMS, but the effects
on RLS are not known. Therefore, the study's main aim is to investigate the effects
of exergaming in pwMS with RLS.
Methods
Thirty-one pwMS with RLS and 34 pwMS without RLS were randomly divided as exergaming
group and control group. The outcome measures were International RLS Study Group Rating
Scale, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, MS Walking Scale, Timed 25-Foot Walk Test, Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale, Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire,
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, 6 min Walk Test, Timed and
Up Go, MS International Quality of Life questionnaire, MS-Related Symptom Checklist.
Results
26 pwMS with RLS (11 exergaming group, 15 control group) and 27 pwMS without RLS (12
exergaming group, 15 control group) were included in 8-week post-treatment analyses.
After an 8-week long-term follow-up, 16 pwMS with and without RLS completed the protocol.
The RLS severity (p = 0.004), anxiety level (p = 0.024), sleep quality (0.005), walking (0.004), and balance functions (0.041) were
improved in pwMS with RLS exergaming group, while RLS severity increased in control
group (p = 0.004). At 8-week follow-up, the effect of exergaming on RLS severity, quality
of life, sleep quality, and walking capacity was preserved. There was significant
improvement in gait and balance functions in pwMS without RLS exergaming group, there
was no significant differences control group. In 8-week follow-up, improvement obtained
in pwMS without RLS exergaming group was not preserved.
Conclusions
This study suggests that exergaming training could be an effective method for managing
RLS severity, anxiety, sleep quality, gait, balance, and quality of life in pwMS with
RLS.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 23, 2022
Accepted:
December 22,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 24,
2022
Received:
November 1,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
