Efficacy of Aerobic and Stretching Exercises in Managing Willis-Ekbom Disease (Restless Leg Syndrome) Among Hemodialysis Patients.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, particularly during rest. It significantly affects the quality of life of hemodialysis patients with high prevalence in this population. While pharmacological treatments, especially dopamine agonists (DAs), are commonly used, they often come with side effects and augmentation phenomena. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of exercise interventions in managing RLS among hemodialysis patients. Eight studies, including randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies, were analyzed. The interventions primarily consisted of aerobic exercises (cycling) and stretching exercises, with durations ranging from eight weeks to six months. The primary outcome measure was RLS severity, assessed using validated scales such as the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) scale or the Restless Legs Syndrome Questionnaire (RLSQ). Secondary outcomes included sleep quality, depression, and physical performance. The results consistently demonstrated that both aerobic and stretching exercises significantly reduced RLS severity and improved related outcomes. The intradialytic nature of some interventions offered a practical approach to incorporating exercise into patient routines. While exercise showed comparable efficacy to DAs in reducing RLS symptoms and improving depression scores, only DAs significantly enhanced sleep quality in one comparative study. These findings suggest that exercise interventions may be a viable non-pharmacological approach to managing RLS in hemodialysis patients, potentially complementing or reducing reliance on pharmacological treatments.