Feasibility and efficacy of a physical activity intervention for managing restless legs syndrome in multiple sclerosis: Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial

•The physical activity intervention had a significant effect on RLS severity.•The physical activity intervention had a significant effect on sleep satisfaction.•The physical activity intervention had a significant effect on self-reported time in bed.•The physical activity intervention had a significant effect on self-reported sleep time. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and efficacy of a physical activity behavior change intervention for improving restless legs syndrome (RLS) severity and secondary sleep outcomes among a sample of adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Participants with MS(N=15) were randomly assigned into intervention(n=8) or waitlist control(n=7) conditions. The physical activity intervention was delivered over a 16-week period and outcomes were assessed at baseline and immediately following the 16-week period in both conditions. There was a significant, positive effect of the intervention on overall RLS severity (p=.01;ηρ2=.43), severity during the night(p=.03,ηρ2=.35), severity during the day while resting(p=.01,ηρ2=.44), and severity during the day while active(p