Restless legs is a condition many people liken to feeling antsy and needing to run. The condition is often experienced at night, particularly before bedtime, although an individual may wake up and experience it. Because of the sensation it causes in the legs, many people believe there is an association between the condition and running, and some theories support this approach.
History
Restless leg syndrome was originally discussed among medical professionals in the mid-1940s in Europe, according to BeginnerTriathlete.com, but it took a long time for its recognition to make its way into mainstream American medicine. The first clinical discussion of restless leg syndrome and guidelines for its diagnosis was first published in 1999. Restless legs occur in anywhere from 3 percent to 15 percent of the population, and some theories suggest the condition is an evolutionary influence that relates to the body signaling a need to actively hunt.
Symptoms
Restless legs can occur to varying degrees in some individuals. Most describe the condition as feeling antsy and, as the name suggests restless--needing to run to be active before going to bed. Others describe a slight burning sensation in the legs, or a field of electric pulses traveling up and down the leg. In extreme cases, the legs may be painful when moved or stretched. In all cases, restless legs can make it difficult or impossible to fall asleep.
Relation to Running
Because restless legs create the sensation of an impulse to run -- and the fact that the syndrome is worse during periods of rest or inactivity -- many believe the syndrome directly relates to exercise and, therefore, running. Running consistently is thought to reduce the frequency or likelihood of intense restless leg attacks.
Treatment
One thing people report being successful in treating restless legs, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is to get up and run or jog in place for a while. This gets the legs active, exercises the muscles and can fade or erase the severity of restlessness in your legs. Running during the day can also serve as a preventative treatment.
Considerations
While there are several connections to be made between restless legs syndrome and running, neither is directly connected to the other. In fact, restless leg syndrome can occur through the influence of many different factors other than inactivity, including iron deficiency, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
