Examining the efficacy of osteopathic manual therapy applications in restless legs syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor disorder characterized by symptoms that worsen at rest and improve with movement, negatively affecting sleep and quality of life. Although dopaminergic agents are used in pharmacological treatment, their side effects and inability to fully eliminate symptoms highlight the importance of non-pharmacological approaches. Osteopathic Manual Treatment (OMT) is a holistic method that corrects tissue dysfunctions through manual techniques, balances the autonomic nervous system, improves circulation, and reduces myofascial tension while preserving the body's structural and functional integrity. However, no controlled studies have evaluated OMT's effectiveness in RLS. In this study, 28 patients with primary RLS were randomly assigned to two groups: the study group (n=14) received six weekly OMT sessions, while the control group (n=14) received no treatment. All participants were evaluated before and after the intervention for RLS severity (IRLSSG), sleep status (PSQI, ISI), quality of life (RLS-QoL), and depression (BDI), and the study group was reassessed after four months. Results showed significant reductions in RLS severity, improvements in sleep and depression, and increased quality of life in the OMT group compared to controls (p<0.05). At the four-month follow-up, improvements were generally maintained, although some parameters were not statistically significant (p>0.05). This study suggests that OMT may effectively reduce symptom severity, improve sleep and quality of life, and alleviate depression in RLS patients, supporting its use as a safe alternative or complementary approach to pharmacological treatment.