Effect of Near-Infrared Light Therapy Based on Acupoints on the Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Clin Med Res

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2018 May 20

PMID 29776916

Citations 9

Authors

Mohammad Mehdi Mohammadi

Ali Akbar Vaisi Raygani

Akram Ghobadi

Soheila Samadzadeh

Nader Salari

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder in hemodialysis patients. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of near-infrared (NIR) light therapy given to acupoints on the severity of RLS in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: This single-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed on 60 hemodialysis patients with RLS. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). Data were collected using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLSRS) and demographic information questionnaire. The intervention group received 12 sessions of NIR light therapy (940 nm) to acupoints in the legs and feet during hemodialysis three times a week, while the control group received sham treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software.

Results: The results indicated that there were statistically and clinically significant differences between the intervention and control groups at the end of the intervention sessions ( < 0.001, mean difference [MD] = 3.8). However, after the treatment was discontinued, the difference was not clinically significant (MD = 2.4). In the within-group compression, the mean RLS scores of the intervention group decreased significantly during the intervention sessions (MD = 3.2, < 0.001); however, after the treatment was discontinued, the difference was not clinically significant (MD = 1.67).

Conclusion: The present study showed that the application of NIR light to acupoints in the legs and feet was as an effective treatment for attenuating the symptoms of RLS in hemodialysis patients.

Citing Articles

The Effect of Massage, Acupressure and Reflexology on Restless Legs Syndrome Severity and Sleep Quality in Patients Receiving Haemodialysis Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Doner A, Tasci S, Bilgin A Nurs Open. 2025; 12(2):e70135.

PMID: 39905773 PMC: 11794833. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.70135.

Restless legs syndrome: abbreviated guidelines by the German sleep society and the German neurological society.

Trenkwalder C, Stefani A, Bachmann C, Maihofner C, Mathis J, Muntean L Neurol Res Pract. 2024; 6(1):53.

PMID: 39501372 PMC: 11539677. DOI: 10.1186/s42466-024-00353-0.

The impact of photobiomodulation on sleep and life quality in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Chang Y, Lin C, Wu J, Hsieh Y, Chou K, Su C Lasers Med Sci. 2024; 39(1):169.

PMID: 38958682 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-024-04114-y.

Common Sleep Disorders in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review on What They Are and How We Should Treat Them.

Davydov G, Nashat H, Ghali S, Afifi S, Suryadevara V, Habab Y Cureus. 2023; 15(8):e44009.

PMID: 37746453 PMC: 10517234. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44009.

Mechanisms underlying acupuncture therapy in chronic kidney disease: A narrative overview of preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Liu X, Wang X, Ma H, Zhang W Front Nephrol. 2023; 2:1006506.

PMID: 37675019 PMC: 10479635. DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2022.1006506.

References

Sahli Z, Jo J, Mousa S, Tarazi F . Clinical management of restless legs syndrome in end-stage renal disease patients. CNS Spectr. 2016; 22(1):14-21. DOI: 10.1017/S109285291600064X. View

Aurora R, Kristo D, Bista S, Rowley J, Zak R, Casey K . The treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults--an update for 2012: practice parameters with an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analyses: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice.... Sleep. 2012; 35(8):1039-62. PMC: 3397811. DOI: 10.5665/sleep.1988. View

Mitchell U, Wayne Johnson A, Myrer B . Comparison of two infrared devices in their effectiveness in reducing symptoms associated with RLS. Physiother Theory Pract. 2010; 27(5):352-9. DOI: 10.3109/09593985.2010.502210. View

Aliasgharpour M, Abbasi Z, Pedram Razi S, Kazemnezhad A . The Effect of Stretching Exercises on Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients on Hemodialysis. Asian J Sports Med. 2016; 7(2):e31001. PMC: 5003313. DOI: 10.5812/asjsm.31001. View

Smith C, Hay P . Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005; (2):CD004046. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub2. View

Winter A, Berger K, Glynn R, Buring J, Gaziano J, Schurks M . Vascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease, and restless legs syndrome in men. Am J Med. 2013; 126(3):228-35, 235.e1-2. PMC: 3574273. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2012.06.039. View

Woloshyn T . Nursing with Flare: The Operators of Light Therapy, c.1890-1940. Dermatol Nurs (Lond). 2016; 15(1):47-52. PMC: 4936522. View

Guffey J, Motts S, Barymon D, Wooten A, Clough T, Payne E . Using near infrared light to manage symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome. Physiother Theory Pract. 2016; 32(1):34-44. DOI: 10.3109/09593985.2015.1087613. View

Mitchell U, Myrer J, Wayne Johnson A, Hilton S . Restless legs syndrome and near-infrared light: An alternative treatment option. Physiother Theory Pract. 2010; 27(5):345-51. DOI: 10.3109/09593985.2010.511440. View

10.

Baxter G, Bleakley C, McDonough S . Clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture: a systematic review. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2010; 1(2):65-82. DOI: 10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60026-1. View

11.

Falaki F, Nejat A, Dalirsani Z . The Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy on Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Review of Literature. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects. 2014; 8(1):1-5. PMC: 4091693. DOI: 10.5681/joddd.2014.001. View

12.

Ekbom K, Ulfberg J . Restless legs syndrome. J Intern Med. 2009; 266(5):419-31. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2009.02159.x. View

13.

Haider I, Anees M, Shahid S . Restless legs syndrome in end stage renal disease patients on haemodialysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2015; 30(6):1209-12. PMC: 4320701. DOI: 10.12669/pjms.306.5691. View

14.

Winkelman J, Johnston L . Augmentation and tolerance with long-term pramipexole treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS). Sleep Med. 2004; 5(1):9-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2003.07.005. View

15.

Hoogwout S, Paananen M, Smith A, Beales D, OSullivan P, Straker L . Musculoskeletal pain is associated with restless legs syndrome in young adults. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015; 16:294. PMC: 4607251. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-015-0765-1. View

16.

Hershey L . Do women with restless legs syndrome have less bone loss?. Neurology. 2016; 86(13):e144-6. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002580. View

17.

Mitchell U . Use of near-infrared light to reduce symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome in a woman: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2010; 4:286. PMC: 2936319. DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-286. View

18.

Cui Y, Wang Y, Liu Z . Acupuncture for restless legs syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008; (4):CD006457. PMC: 11270639. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006457.pub2. View

19.

Ondo W . Restless legs syndrome. Neurol Clin. 2009; 27(3):779-99, vii. DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2009.04.007. View

20.

Stefanidis I, Vainas A, Giannaki C, Dardiotis E, Spanoulis A, Sounidaki M . Restless legs syndrome does not affect 3-year mortality in hemodialysis patients. Sleep Med. 2015; 16(9):1131-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2015.04.023. View