Are you aware of any effective therapeutic treatment practices for restless leg syndrome?
Answer
I wish I had a great answer for you for that question. Anecdotally, I can tell you that patients who do a fair amount of aerobic exercise tend to complain less of the Restless Leg symptoms. We have to teach our patients to be as active as possible, and make sure that they have no excessive tightness anywhere in their bodies. So we must teach them proper flexibility activities. I have found that sometimes in my young onset patients, plyometrics tend to help. I will have them doing things like jumping or skipping. Keep in mind that Restless Leg Syndrome is generally best treated by the medication through the MD.
Heather J. Cianci, PT, MS, GCS
Heather Cianci, PT, MS, GCS is the founding therapist of the Dan Aaron Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center (Good Shepherd/Penn Partners) at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Heather also works for LSVT® Global as a BIG trainer, teaching PTs and OTs throughout the US and recently in Europe. She received her Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy from the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA and her Master’s in Gerontology from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Heather has practiced physical therapy for 18 years, with the majority of those years dedicated to working with patients with Parkinson’s disease. She is a certified LSVT® BIG clinician, PWR! (Parkinson Wellness Recovery) Expert, and a graduate of the National Parkinson Foundation’s (NPF) Allied Team Training Program (ATTP). Heather’s research includes movement strategies for bed mobility, falls and freezing of gait. She also is the author of the 3rd and 4th editions of Fitness Counts, and a co-author of Activities of Daily Living: Practical Pointers, educational manuals for the NPF, as well as a chapter on rehabilitative strategies in Comprehensive Nursing Care for Parkinson’s Disease (Springer Publishing). Heather teaches about rehabilitation and Parkinson’s at Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Physical Therapy in Philadelphia and lectures at many local and national support groups and conferences. She also is a board member of CurePSP, the Foundation for PSP/CBD and Related Brain Diseases, and is chair of their Medical Professional Education Committee. Heather’s recent courses include Parkinson’s Disease Across the Lifespan: A Roadmap for Nurses, and Parkinson’s Disease: A Practical Approach to Evaluation and Treatment for the Physical Therapist, both sponsored through the Parkinson Disease Foundation.
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