Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
It is estimated that around five to ten per cent of Germans are affected by RLS. This makes RLS one of the most common neurological disorders. 60 per cent of patients are women. However, the symptoms are very mild in 80 per cent of people affected, meaning that no medication is necessary.
The accompanying symptoms of RLS frequently lead to incorrect diagnosis, as the underlying disorder is often not detected. The medical assumption that the possible cause is a psychosomatic disorder, depression or hypochondria may, in extreme cases, lead to lengthy patient ‘journeys’ with frequent changes of doctors, suicide attempts or unnecessary stays in psychiatric wards. kybun products cannot cure the condition; however, the gentle daily movement can relieve pain. Regularly walking in the kybun shoe/exercising on the kybun mat can provide long-term pain relief.Pruebe nuestro calzado y sienta la diferencia.
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Definition and symptoms
Immediate relief through muscle activity is characteristic of RLS, in other words, moving the affected limbs by walking, bending the knees, cycling, periodic flexing etc. However, the symptoms return directly after a short-term improvement, usually the next time the muscles are at rest.
Pain is worse in the evenings and at night than during the day and may only occur in the evening or at night when sitting quietly or lying down (many of those affected feel pain between 10 pm and 4 am). A constant lack of sleep causes the patient to feel tired and worn down all the time, which in turn can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion. Inevitably, this has a chronic adverse effect on many areas of the patient’s life.
On the other hand, relaxing situations, boredom and limited movement can exacerbate symptoms regardless of the time of day. Common side effects of RLS include periodic convulsions in the legs or arms during sleep, where the patient is not aware of the movements. In rare cases, these symptoms may also occur while the patient is awake. These spasms often lead to unnoticed sleep disruptions due to patients repeatedly waking for short periods. The agonizing restlessness in the limbs and the irrepressible compulsion to move (for example, by walking around) often effectively prevents sufferers from falling asleep and staying asleep. The patient is not necessarily aware of the actual cause of the problem, particularly when the symptoms are otherwise relatively mild.
Causes
The ICSD-2 classification system for sleep disorders classifies it as a sleep-related movement disorder. It is likely that the disorder is caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve signals. The results of scientific research indicate that there are genetic causes. A differentiation is made between idiopathic RLS (without triggering causes, but frequently running in families) and symptomatic RLS (acquired from another underlying disease). Predisposition to this condition can be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Genetic predisposition has now been confirmed by twin studies; however, the degree of genetic influence remains uncertain. Research is underway to locate the gene that causes the syndrome. When RLS is passed on in a family, researchers have observed a tendency for symptoms to occur earlier and with more severity in each successive generation. Examples of disorders and factors that can frequently cause RLS include:
- Dialysis-dependent renal insufficiency
- Thyroid dysfunctions
- Pregnancy
- Anaemia due to iron deficiency
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Iron deficiency
- Metabolic disorders
- Various medications can also cause symptomatic RLS
Long-term consequences
Conventional therapy
The kybun principle of operation – be proactive
Initial reactions
Click here for the general initial reactions experienced by kybun mat and kybun shoe beginners: Initial reactions
kybun exercises
For information about the special kybun shoe exercises or the basic kybun mat exercises, please click here: kybun exercises
Application tips
- kybun training should always be adapted to the user’s condition each day. It is important for the affected individual to discover how much kybun training is helpful and when it is time for a break in order to avoid increased pain afterwards. On some days, it may well be that only short and gentle kybun shoe training is possible (or even skipping a day), while walking longer distances in the kybun schoe may be possible on other days.
Regular walking in the kybun shoe/exercising on the kybun mat allows the body to adjust over time (stimulating blood circulation, developing stronger muscular and connective tissue and more stable joints), and symptoms will decline.More helpful tips:
- If you feel pain in the kybun shoe or on the kybun mat, or if your existing pain gets worse, this may be due to various reasons (e.g. an unfamiliar, more upright posture, tense muscles, movements that are unfamiliar for the body).
- We advise you to perform the kybun exercises regularly every now and again. They loosen the muscles and straighten the body. This relieves strain on the joints.
Choose the kybun exercises that are good for you! Some customers prefer easier movements while others find the more intensive exercises helpful; this is highly individual. - Choose a kybun shoe with a lower rebound effect. It provides you with greater midfoot stability. Ask your kybun dealer to show you the various models.
- If you feel unstable wearing the kybun shoe or are looking for an additional training device to use at home, the kybun mat is the ideal alternative. You can strengthen the foot, leg and back musculature at home on the soft, elastic springy mat. You can hold on to a fixed object if you feel unstable. The kybun mat is also available in a choice of different thicknesses (the thicker it is, the more intensive the training). Ask your local kybun dealer for advice.
- If you get very fatigued in spite of the kybun exercises, or if you feel pain or in case of lateral/medial rolling of the ankle joint on the kybun sole, we advise you to take a short kybun shoe/kybun mat break until the symptoms go away.
- Be sure to maintain an upright posture, avoid taking excessively long steps and keep your gaze forward (do not look at the floor). You should walk straight on the kybun shoe sole and correct any lateral/medial rolling of the ankle joint!
- If uncertainty or complaints arise even after you have implemented these tips, please contact a local kybun dealer you trust for advice.