Causes of Restless Legs After Exercise

More than 1 in 10 people in the United States have restless legs syndrome, or RLS, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Exercise is often suggested as a method of relieving RLS symptoms, but some people find that exercise makes the symptoms worse. Experts suggest several reasons this might be true.

Restless Legs and the Brain

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines restless legs syndrome as a neurological disorder. People with RLS feel sensations in their legs they describe as pressure, tingling, prickling, or creeping. These feelings may range from annoying to disabling.

Movement brings relief, but often only for a few seconds. The condition is typically worse at night and interferes with restful sleep.

Movement vs. Relaxation

The symptoms of RLS tend to disappear with movement and come back during relaxation, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. People with restless legs syndrome have the unpleasant sensations disappear during their exercise sessions only to return after exercise is finished.

It may then feel like the symptoms are worse, but they may just seem worse in comparison to their absence. People may also be less active after exercise as they rest and recover, and the lower level of muscle activity makes the symptoms worse.

Time of Day

Restless legs syndrome is worse at night — sometimes occurring alongside periodic limb movement disorder (PLMB), which, according to the Sleep Foundation, involves repetitive jerking or cramping of the legs during sleep — and often shows no symptoms at all in the morning.

People who exercise in the late afternoon or evening may be going so during the symptom activity threshold by coincidence. In this case, RLS symptoms seem to start after exercise but would have still occurred if they hadn’t exercised.

Dopamine Levels and RLS

The causes of restless legs syndrome are not well understood, but evidence points to an imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Although exercise can increase dopamine levels, which is why moderate exercise is an effective therapy for RLS, very intense exercise can have the opposite effect. One survey in the Journal of Sleep Research found that 54 percent of respondents reported that exercise only improves RLS, while 24 percent reported exercise worsened symptoms, so results can vary significantly.

Exercise and Restless Legs

Regular moderate exercise is an important treatment for RLS. If exercise seems to be making the symptoms worse, try reducing the intensity of your workouts to see if you are overtraining. If that doesn’t help, it may be beneficial to move your exercise earlier in the day or to stay active after workout sessions.

Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol also have been shown to contribute to RLS symptoms, so reducing or eliminating these should help. Some medications, such as stimulants, antidepressants, and antianxiety medications, are known to cause or exacerbate RLS. You should consult your doctor about dietary changes to correct deficiencies in iron, folic acid, or magnesium, according to Harvard Health Publishing.