Soaking in a hot tub before bed or even during the day can ease the cramping and pains that are symptoms of RLS. That’s Restless Leg Syndrome. If you have it, you typically know it.

If you experience these symptoms repeatedly, though, check with your doctor. RLS may be the cause.

Sunday, September 23rd is Restless Leg Awareness Day and time to shed light on what it is and what can be done about it.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs.

While the name may sound funny, it is a very real disorder. In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet one of the four criteria below:

1. UNCOMFORTABLE LEG SENSATIONS. You have a strong urge to move your legs, which you may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing.

2. SYMPTOMS ARE WORSE WHEN YOU’RE RESTING. Your RLS symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.

3. MOVEMENT HELPS. Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.

4. NIGHT TIME PAIN AND SLEEP DEPRIVATION. The worst is at night. Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day.

RLS can also cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the worst aspects of the syndrome. A substantial number of people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). These are jerks that occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night. This can cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation can seriously impact your work, relationships, and health.

 How is RLS treated?

A regular exercise program may help restless legs. Reducing your caffeine intake, alcohol use and smoking may also help. When restless legs strikes, any of the following activities may help:

Walking

Riding an exercise bike

Massaging the legs

Soaking in a hot tub

For more, check out: The RLS Fact Sheet or the more detailed Living with RLS.

With the rise in medication for RLS, it seems like a doctor’s prescription for a hot tub would be in order, don’t you think?

Want to treat RLS the natural way-without medication? Try soaking in a your Hot Spring Spa before bed to relax and massage your legs to ease the cramping and pain!  Many of our Olympic Hot Tub customers have reported a decrease in the occurrence of RLS after hot tub soaking.

If you have RLS and want to see if a hot tub will help, come into any of our stores and take a FREE test soak. That way you’ll know for sure that a hot tub can be a real, non-medicated benefit.

If you have RLS symptoms and have used a hot tub for relief,  please share your experience by posting a comment below. Thanks!

Relax for life.™

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