The benefits of walking for restless leg syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is as strange as it sounds. It happens when sensations of itching, burning, electric shock, or general discomfort make you want to get up and walk around to make them go away. It usually occurs in the legs, but it can also affect the upper extremities.

If you suffer from restless leg syndrome during menopause, there’s a reason and also a remedy for it. Keep reading to understand this condition and how you can cure it through exercise.

How is RLS related to menopause?

Menopause is a time that marks a fluctuation of hormones such as estrogen. This hormone may at times soar to levels dangerously high for a woman’s health and at other times plummet to almost nothing. Studies have shown that extremely low estrogen levels specifically can inhibit the metabolism of magnesium, which aids in muscle relaxation.

Why is walking a cure for RLS?

Mayoclinic.com recommends trying simple lifestyle changes to relieve your restless leg syndrome if the symptoms are not severe. However, because restless leg syndrome induces discomfort when resting, it is also considered a sleep disorder. Therefore, it is best to do your walking routine in the morning instead of at night when it could keep you awake.

Walking, because it is relatively easy to do and can be worked into any daily routine, is a prime workout for restless leg syndrome. You can do speed walking or take a leisurely stroll, and it can be for as little as 20 minutes a day. If you are not able to carve out a specific time for walking in your schedule, try pacing the office in between work tasks or walking around the house before work. The key is to do it consistently, not just when you feel the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

Before walking, remember to stretch. Stretching not only prevents you from injuring yourself during exercise, but it’s a great way to relieve your symptoms as well. Stretching should also be done at the end of the workout to help ease the discomfort of lactic acid stored in the muscles after physical activity.

For more information

Restless leg syndrome is only one of 80 sleep disorders that women can develop during menopause. Click the following link to learn more about sleep disorders during menopause.