How Therapulse works
Restless leg syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, is a neurological disorder that affects millions of people each year. People who suffer from RLS often have aches, pains, or sensations in the legs when a person is lying down for bed or sitting. The symptoms of RLS can vary in duration and severity for each person. Some people experience mild symptoms intermittently, while others may have more severe symptoms with each episode.
One of the most effective treatments for RLS is 'counter stimulation' with vibration. The TheraPulse device generates high-frequency waves which passes through the skin to the legs. Nerve signals are transmitted as impulses in the large sensory fibres of the body and by applying a certain frequency to the area, it interacts with the body's impulse transmissions, causing disruption. The pulse is effectively ‘scrambling’ the sensory impulses to the extent that they cannot be interpreted by the brain.
TheraPulse comes pre-set with 10 vibration modes and full instructions of how to use the various settings.
This is a treatment modality approved by NICE, the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence.
Research & Studies
Several studies have investigated the use of this sort of therapy to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions in various parts of the body. They show that vibration be used as a cost-effective and safe procedure to improve the symptoms of RLS in patients. Recently vibrating pads have been approved in the US by the FDA for treating RLS but they continue to be an expensive option.
- The effect of vibration on the severity of restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients
- Decreased Symptoms without Augmented Skin Blood Flow in Subjects with RLS/WED after Vibration Treatment.
- Sleep improvement for restless legs syndrome patients. Part 1: pooled analysis of two prospective, double-blind, sham-controlled, multi-center, randomized clinical studies of the effects of vibrating pads on RLS symptoms
- Improving sleep for patients with restless legs syndrome. Part II: meta-analysis of vibration therapy and drugs approved by the FDA for treatment of restless legs syndrome.
- The effects of vibration and massage on severity of symptoms of restless leg syndrome and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients; a randomized cross-over clinical trial.
- Medical devices for restless legs syndrome – clinical utility of the Relaxis pad
- Sensory Stimuli and the Restless Legs Syndrome.
- Vibratory stimulation for the alleviation of chronic pain, Acta Physiol Scand Suppl. 1983;523:1-51.