Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, Early Online, 2010, 1–7
Copyright & Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
ISSN: 0959-3985 print/1532-5040 online
DOI: 10.3109/09593985.2010.511440
RESEARCH REPORT
Restless legs syndrome and near-infrared light:
An alternative treatment option
Ulrike H Mitchell, PhD, PT,1 J William Myrer, PhD,2 A Wayne Johnson, PhD, PT,1 and
Sterling C Hilton, PhD3
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Sciences, Br igham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
2
Professor, Department of Exercise Sciences, Br igham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
3
Professor, Department of Educational Leadership & Foundations, Br igham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
ABSTRACT
There are few treatment options in managing restless legs syndrome (RLS); the most frequently used are
dopaminergic drugs and movement. New treatment options are highly sought after. This study evaluated the
effectiveness of monochromatic near-infrared light treatment in decreasing symptoms associated with RLS.
The design used was 236 repeated-measures design with two groups (treatment and control) and six repeated
measures (baseline, weeks 1–4, and posttreatment). Data collection took place in the university modalities
laboratory. Thirty-four volunteers with symptoms of RLS were randomly assigned to a treatment or control
group. Over a 4-week period subjects underwent twelve 30-min treatments to their lower legs with near-
infrared light. The International RLS rating scale (IRLS) was used to assess and track patient symptoms. There
was a steady decrease in symptoms associated with RLS over the 4 weeks in the treatment group. After
4 weeks of treatment the treatment group had a significantly greater improvement in restless legs syndrome
symptoms than the control group (p,0.001); improvement was still significant after 4 weeks posttreatment
compared to baseline (p,0.001). Treatment with near-infrared light does decrease symptoms associated with
RLS as demonstrated in lower IRLS scores. This new noninvasive method of treating RLS might become a
valuable new management option. More research is needed to determine the mechanism(s) behind infrared
light treatment and RLS.
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