Did you know that up to 10% of Americans have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)? And up to 3% of U.S. adults suffer from severe RLS — that’s 5 million adults nationwide!
RLS Symptoms
According to the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, RLS is a neurological disorder where people experience the following in the legs:
- throbbing
- pulling
- creeping
- other unpleasant sensations
These symptoms often happen at night when you’re relaxed or at rest. There’s also oftentimes an uncontrollable and overwhelming urge to move them and the actual action of moving the legs is in an attempt to relieve the discomfort.
Drug-Free Strategies to Manage RLS
Lifestyle changes can be helpful in relieving symptoms. These include:
- Eliminating caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco
- Creating and/or maintaining a regular sleep schedule
In addition, a recent 2015 study in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that regular acupuncture over a six-week period reduced symptoms of RLS.