Resless Legs Syndrome and Osteopathic Manipulation

Restless Legs Syndrome is described as a nocturnal "creeping sensation" felt in the deep tissues of the calf which keeps suffering patients awake. Restless Legs Syndrome is reported by patients to be relieved by walking or other active movement of the legs. Dopamine and other pharmacologic therapies have been used to treat this condidiotn of unknown etiology with moderate success. Researchers studied the effectiveness of the Osteopathic Manipulative Technique, the Pedal Lymphatic Pump, on Restless Legs Syndrome.

The Pedal Lymphatic Pump incorporates an oscillatory action to mobilize tissues and fluids. The movement of the technique stretches fascia and soft tissue at a rate of one to two oscillations per second for a period of five to ten minutes to aid in venous and lymphatic flow.

The patient in the study kept a sleep diary after the treatments were initiated to report subjective increases of decrease in the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome and changes in sleep period duration. The patient reported that sleep time doubled from two to four hours nightly with a complete disappearance of the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome.

The Pedal Lymphatic Pump technique increases venous and lymphatic Pump technique increase venous and lymphatic return by mobilizing tissues thereby decreasing metabolic waste build up. The use of this technique in Restless Legs Syndrome requires further study as it is an easy to perform non-pharmacological intervention which doubled sleep time and removed symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome in a patient.
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The management of restless legs syndrome using the pedal lymphatic pump. Mark V. Ragucci, MS, et al. Fortieth Annual AOA Research Conference Abstracts: 1996