Restless leg syndrome, also known as RLS, is a condition that can affect both men and women. While you're sitting or lying down for an extended period of time, you might experience an uncomfortable feeling in the legs that causes you to want to get up and move around. This is also accompanied with a burning or tingling sensation, and the arms can also be affected. Once RLS has presented itself in the body, there are various remedies that can be used to treat it.
Avoidance
There are several things that can cause irritability and restlessness and should be avoided, especially later in the day. Examples include caffeine products such as coffee, soft drinks and chocolate, alcohol, smoking and any other substance that might cause symptoms to develop.
Yoga
Stress is another contributing factor to RLS. To reduce your levels of anxiety and to calm your nerves, perform relaxation activities, such as yoga, tai-chi and meditative breathing, especially right before going to bed.
Massage
Another way to relax the legs and the body is to take a relaxing warm bath right before bed and then massage the leg muscles.
Exercise
Exercise helps reduce stress and tires out your legs to keep them from being so restless. This should be done in the afternoon and the intensity should be held to moderate, as high-intensity exercise can have an adverse effect.
Sleep Habits
Follow the same pattern of sleeping every night. Make sure your room is dark, quiet and comfortable, and go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Another remedy is going to bed later at night and getting up later in the morning.
Medications
Take over-the-counter pain medications to help reduce twitching and burning sensations when the case of RLS is mild. Examples of these include Motrin and Advil.
Temperature
Applying warm and cold packs to the legs can help reduce the symptoms. They can be used by themselves or can be alternated between warm and cold.
