Thermo-therapy and cryotherapy to decrease the symptoms of restless leg syndrome during the pregnancy: A randomized clinical trial

Background and purpose: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensory-motor disorder among the pregnant women. The aim of this study is to compare the impacts of two methods of immersion of legs in cold and warm water on the RLS symptoms among the pregnant women. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 pregnant women with RLS who referred to Taleghani educational-therapy center. After obtaining their informed consent, they were selected by accessible method and randomly allocated into group 1 (warm water) and group 2 (cold water). Group 1 were asked to put their legs in cold water for 10 min every night for 2 weeks. The group 2 put their legs in warm water under the same condition. The severity of RLS was measured before and after the study. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive as well as the analytical statistics such as Chi-square, independent T test, pair T test, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon and covariance. Results: After intervention, mean RLS of the cold water group was 11.02 +/- 4.93; while this mean was 13.50 +/- 4.74 in the warm water group. The difference between the two groups was significant (p=0.017). Results also revealed that the severity of RLS symptoms at the end of the treatment was different from the beginning of the research in both groups (p= 0.001). The intervention with both warm and cold water declined the RLS symptoms among pregnant women. Conclusion: The warm and cold water can be used for this purpose depending on the women's preference. However, this article recommends the cold water for more reducing of symptoms.