Restless Leg Syndrome & Iron deficiency

[Bandos]

Hi everyone,

during periods of intense training, mainly depth, I experience "Restless Leg Syndrome" (electric/itching sensation in the legs), usually at night when resting.
I just learned that it is commonly associated with low levels of iron. Could it be that apnea training through reduction of hemoglobin decreases iron levels and causes this condition?
Has anyone else experienced this while training?

 

[trux]

Yes, intensive apnea training has indeed negative impact on your hemoglobin / iron levels

 

[Mullins]

I get it pretty badly following a heavy session - even a one-off that's not in the middle of a hard training stint. Doubt it's caused by iron deficiency, more likely it's just muscle acidity.

 

[Mr. X]

I know 2 people who regularly complain about restless or fidgety legs. They are both keen walkers. They are both unusually active people. One of them paces, a lot - doesn't like sitting still for long. I take usually it as an indication that they are in need of a good long walk.

Perhaps you need to exercise (or flush) you legs with more weight-bearing exercise (e.g. walk/run)? Diving isn't weight-bearing and finning is an unusual use of the leg muscles.

Iron sounds like a long shot. While iron supplements are often recommended for menstruating women they are usually not recommended for men because there of an association with heart conditions (similar to the suggestion that they limit red meat consumption). See your GP.

 

[thegrillb]

Inflammation is believed to be a key factor when it comes to Restless Legs Syndrome. A new study was published in the January 14, 2012 issue of "Sleep Medicine Review Journal" that supports this theory. You can read that study here:
http://www.rlcure.com/rls_study.pdf

You can view the results of other related scientific studies and learn about some helpful solutions at this free RLS information website:
An Absolute Cure for Restless Legs Syndrome

A blog for RLS sufferers with helpful tips can be found here:
The Restless Legs Blog (or how I tried to convince Big Pharma that my legs are better)

 

[Bandos]

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[Andrew the fish]

...Perhaps you need to exercise (or flush) you legs with more weight-bearing exercise (e.g. walk/run)? Diving isn't weight-bearing and finning is an unusual use of the leg muscles.

I am not sure if weight training will fix it. I live with restless legs syndrome, and it gets worse with heavy weight training or any training. Sometime ago I was building on my running times, restless legs were just as bad as with weight training. And I was taking all kinds of supps, iron was part of it. For me nothing fixes it, doesn't hurt anybody but my lady, sometimes she gets kicked a little, black eye and such, she doesn't mind, gives her something to joke about.