Exercise

[Tonp]

Hi everyone

Has anybody noticed that the RLS seems to get worse with exercise?

I joined the gym to try this o lose weight/ get fitter, but my legs seem much worse when I go.

Please let me know if you've noticed the same kind of thing

Thanks

Tonia

[Hidden]

Hi. Yes, I have noticed this especially if I exercise later in the day. I have also noticed that strength (anaerobic) exercise is much more beneficial to my RLS than is any kind of aerobic exercise. I really need to use my legs if I am to notice a difference.

[involuntarydancer]

Yes I noticed this too, especially if exercise is late in the day (like Jess). Conversely, my symptoms improved when I took up high intensity training (mainly free weights) and followed a strict diet some years ago - I always trained in the morning. Sadly, I didn’t manage to keep it up for more than a year.

[Eryl]

I don't notice that, even after a 4-5 hour bike ride. Are you eating or drinking anything different when you go to the gym? e.g. sports drinks, chocolate bar, or having a little treat afterwards to reward yourself? If so , I'd suggest that your trigger is the sugar in that food or drink.

[Tonp in reply to Eryl]

Thanks for your reply

I find it interesting that you mention sugar, do you think that sugar affects RSL?

[Eryl in reply to Tonp]

Along with E202 food preservative it's one of my triggers. I have avoided sugar and sweetened foods, and have avoided large ammounts of high carb foods since Christmas and have largely been free from rls except when I've let the diet slip.

I also take vit b12 and magnesium supplements, but may try leaving out the magnesium soon as I have already been able to halve the dose with no effect.

[OFgc in reply to Eryl]

Happy to hear that reducing sugar helps. Does that include "natural/unprocessed" sugar that comes in fruit, honey, 100% maple and such? Thanks!

[Eryl in reply to OFgc]

There is a theory that monosacharide sugars like fructose are more easily absorbed by the body, and threfore aren't available to the microbiota (whch create the neurotransmitters) so long, but in my experience the microbes absorb it quicker as well, so there's not a lot of difference.

[RLSgirl]

I do wedding photography. The first time I really noticed my RLS was after I had been standing for more than 12 hours shooting the very first wedding I ever did. I was dead-beat tired and my feet and legs ached. I couldn’t wait to sit down and put them up and relax. But after about 20min my legs started getting antsy and I found I couldn’t sit still. It was horrible the whole night.

There is definitely a connection between exercising too much or overdoing it and RLS symptoms getting worse. But for me I find that the opposite is also true. If I don’t exercise at all my RLS is also worse. I have to make sure I balance it out and get some physical activity in. but not too much.

[Hidden]

Yes! I walk briskly for 12 hours/day at work and it completely and totally makes my RLS much worse. I envisioned the opposite, but of course, that didn’t happen! Inevitable suffering! What’s new?

[John_naylor]

A lecturer at AGM last year said exercise is likely to make it worse (a week of cycle rides proved that to me!). Anaerobic exercise is better, we were told 5pm-7pm was optimum time for our body clock (very important factor for us as our body is unable to shut down at bedtime). Also, as we age, our muscle volume reduces, so if we build up that volume we increase the amount of Dopamine produced.