The Effects of Vibration and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation Methods on Pain and Sleep Quality in Hemodialysis Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a chronic disorder characterized by abnormal sensations, usually accompanied by pain and restlessness in the legs and/or any part of the body. The typical clinical feature of RLS is the irresistible urge to move and restlessness, especially in the legs, that prevents falling asleep, accompanied by dysesthesia, and the symptoms are more pronounced in the evening and at night, and occur and increase at rest.

Sleep quality disorders (10-20%) and limb movements during sleep are quite common in patients with RLS . These disorders in sleep quality are also common among patients receiving hemodialysis due to end-stage renal disease.

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are used in the treatment of RLS.

Due to the varying success and side effects of pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological methods have come to the fore for these patients. One of the methods that can be applied as a non-pharmacological method is vibration. Vibration causes an increase in the patient's body temperature, leading, in turn, to increased oxygen release from myoglobin and hemoglobin, increased muscle blood flow, increased sensitivity of neural receptors, increased nerve velocity, and decreased muscle viscosity. It has been stated that all these factors contribute positively to improving health, reducing pain, improving sleep quality, as well as bio-motor and functional indicators.

Although the therapeutic effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (EYYDM) is not clear, it is stated that it activates the muscles, fascia and tendon and improves pain clinically in studies.