Restless legs syndrome is a common ailment that negatively impacts the quality of sleep. In 2009, I battled RLS for two years during my days living through the corporate grind. Every night, I knew that a nearly uncontrollable urge to move my legs would make falling asleep hard. My girlfriend at the time called me Frog Legs. I’m happy to say that my days of RLS are behind me. One of the easiest and most efficient ways to calm your legs before bed is to choose the best leg massager for restless leg syndrome. A good massager helps to relax the leg muscles, improve blood circulation, and take care of the physical causes of RLS.
In this guide, I share my top 5 favorite leg massagers for RLS, reviews of each unit, and tips to help you choose the right model for your case.
Product | Description |
#1) Cloud Massage Shiatsu Massager |
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#2) Fit King Foot & Leg Massager for Circulation |
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#3) Human Touch Reflex SOL Foot & Calf Shiatsu Massager |
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#4) Renpho Rechargeable Deep Tissue Massager |
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#5) IDSON Muscle Roller Stick |
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Best Leg Massager for Restless Leg Syndrome Reviews
As you probably already noticed from the chart above, there are several different approaches. There are rolling Shiatsu massagers that offer a 100% hands-free massage experience with heat. Then, there are leg wrap massagers that use air compression technology to relax your muscles and improve blood circulation. This type of massager also offers a hands-free experience.
The third type of massager is a handheld unit that comes with several different attachments that target specific muscle groups throughout your body. While these don’t offer a hands-free experience, they are quite effective for relaxing muscles and cost a lot less than premium electric massagers. The final option is a massage stick. This is the cheapest and most portable option that can be used on its own or to supplement one of the electric massagers.
Below, I share individual reviews of each of the units in my Top 5 along with the pros and cons. I researched current info to see what RLS sufferers are saying about their experience using these devices to calm their legs.
#1) Cloud Massage Shiatsu Massager
The feature-rich Cloud massager is one of the top-rated foot and leg massagers currently on the market. According to my findings, it’s also the top-rated massager for restless legs. What makes this massager so great is its functionality and versatility. It uses internal rollers to deliver a true shiatsu massage experience in the comfort of your own home. It’s also not too heavy to take along with you to the office or during your travels.
One of the features of this machine that I like the most is the adjustable bar that allows you to find your perfect angle. Since everyone is different heights and weights, the adjustable bar is a key feature to have onboard. With the Cloud, you may also want to move it around to target different parts of your legs, including your calves, ankles, feet, and toes.
Along with the shiatsu rollers, the Cloud massager also incorporates air compression, vibration, and even an optional heat setting for ultimate comfort & relaxation. The adjustable settings allow you to control the massage strength and each feature for the optimal massage experience.
The final highlight to consider is the trustworthiness of the company behind the Cloud massager. Cloud stands behind its flagship massager 100% and guarantees your satisfaction. Since this type of massager isn’t cheap, it’s very important to buy from a legit company.
- If you suffer from RLS that affects both your legs and feet, this machine is a great fit with its air compression technology
- Effectively relieves pain in the legs and works as a great distraction to help relax the legs before bed
- The Cloud massager does an excellent job of relaxing tight calf muscles
- A seriously relaxing and therapeutic massage experience
- Recommended by RLS sufferers who work all day on their feet
- Excellent to use before bed to get a better night’s sleep
- Helps to alleviate swollen legs and feet
- The 15-minute massage session makes it easy to relax and not worry about having to turn the machine off (it’s possible to do multiple 15-minute sessions in a row)
- The need to reach down to press the buttons on the control panel between massages
- The openings are too small to treat the thighs and hamstrings
- Too intense for some
- No remote
#2) Fit King Foot & Leg Massager for Circulation
One of the drawbacks to most leg and foot massagers is the need to change the position of the machine to get total leg coverage. If you prefer to skip moving the machine around, the Fit King Foot & Leg Massager is your best bet. There are several models available, and model BD909 comes the highest up your legs to get your thighs and hamstrings involved. It’s important to keep in mind that the Cloud massager above is too small to fit most adult hamstrings and thighs.
Unlike Cloud massager, Fit King only uses air compression technology. This means that there are no vibrations, shiatsu rollers, or optional heat settings. Instead, there are three internal airbags in each boot that allow for different types of air compression massages. Choose between Sequence, Circulation, and Whole modes to find your preferred settings. In total, there are ten different massages mode combinations. This makes it easy to experiment to discover which settings ease your RLS symptoms the most.
Additional highlights include the remote that makes it easy to switch between modes and your desired pressure settings without the need to bend over. Lastly, the Fit King kit includes two free extensions for a maximum calf circumference of 28.5″ to accommodate most everyone.
- Highly recommended for improving circulation
- Excellent for relieving nagging RLS symptoms before bed to get a better night’s sleep
- Helps to ease pain related to RLS
- Recommended for easing pregnancy-related RLS symptoms
- Circulation mode is the preferred mode for restless legs syndrome
- Very comfortable, no irritating materials
- Great for relaxing tight leg muscles
- Recommended for swollen legs and feet
- It can be difficult for some users including seniors to strap into the massagers because of the strong velcro
- Skinny users below 100 lbs may find that the massager is too large
- You might not like air compression therapy
- Might be too small for users 3XL or larger
#3) Human Touch Reflex SOL Foot & Calf Shiatsu Massager
For people who want to focus on their feet and calves without the need to move a machine around, the Reflex SOL massager is one of the best on the market. I had the pleasure of using this type of massager, and it’s incredibly awesome. There are a ton of settings to choose from, and everything is automated. The massage is powerful too, which may or may not be a good thing for you depending on how much pressure you prefer. My one word of advice is to start on the lowest setting and work your way up to avoid any first-time use soreness.
The Reflex SOL delivers a reflexology massage that directs blood back toward the heart for improved circulation. This is the main reason why the Reflex SOL unit is one of the best massagers for restless legs. The SOL uses CirQulation Figure-Eight technology to improve circulation.
Features I like that really set this unit apart from the competition are the warm air technology, extended height for more calf coverage, adjustable tilt base to find your perfect angle, and the removable & washable sleeve inserts. Overall, this machine is built to stand the test of time, comes backed by a 1-year warranty, and has a strong focus on improving circulation on autopilot. Simply step in and out of the SOL without the need to strap in like with Fit King massagers.
- The pressure is perfect, not too strong or light (recommended for users 50+)
- The calf massage is excellent for relaxing the leg muscles before bed
- An excellent massager for relieving foot pain
- The vibration setting along with the reflexology massage is very satisfying
- Not too loud (even with the vibration setting on)
- The heat feature is very relaxing to use before bed
- Recommended by runners for working out muscle knots after a run
- A true spa-like experience
- Can be a bit tricky to position your feet inside the machine
- Users who are 6’4″ or taller may find that it’s too small
- Individuals with thin calves may not experience the full benefits of the calf massage
- It’s the heaviest massager in my Top 5 (may need to keep it in one spot since there’s no easy way to pick it up)
#4) Renpho Rechargeable Deep Tissue Massager
Renpho’s handheld massager is the Swiss Army knife of massagers. For the money, this could be the best overall massager on the market. The kit includes different attachments to optimize your massage experience. Since you want to focus on your legs, there are multiple attachments to target larger muscles and the contours of your legs for a deeply relaxing massage before bed.
My favorite thing about the Renpho massager is it’s cordless. Bring it with you anywhere and get up to a full 140 minutes of massage power. This also means there’s no need to hover around an outlet when you use the Renpho handheld massager at home.
The kit includes a total of five attachments. For RLS sufferers, the Curved Head attachment is excellent for targeting the thighs and calves. The Round and One-Point massage heads are good for deep tissue massage and to break up muscle knots in the back and shoulders.
The motor delivers one of the highest RPM ratings in its class with up to 3600 RPM. Once you choose your attachment, the buttons on the unit make it easy to find your preferred intensity. Additionally, the lightweight unit weighs just under 1.8 lbs and gives you a full 20 minutes of massage power per session.
- Very quiet operation, unlike louder massage gun models
- Does an excellent job of relaxing leg muscles before bed
- The included attachments are great for mixing and matching to find your perfect massage
- One RLS sufferer recommends 10 minutes on each calf before bed for a better night’s sleep
- Effectively relieves leg pain that may be causing RLS symptoms
- The leg attachment is perfect
- Very easy to use and lightweight enough for almost anyone, including seniors
- The adjustable intensity levels make it easy to find your sweet spot
- Excellent customer service
- Several reported problems with the battery
- It may not penetrate as deep as you’d like
- There may be better options for pain relief
- You might not like holding a massager for the duration of each session
#5) IDSON Muscle Roller Stick
The final option is the cheapest and 100% manual, which means no worrying about failing electric parts or batteries. Compared to the other four massagers in this guide, the IDSON massage stick is a fraction of the cost. For people on a tight budget or who want to test whether massage works to ease their RLS symptoms, this is a great place to start.
The ergonomic massage stick is built to last a lifetime with its steel rod core and nine independent ABS rollers. Each grooved roller works to relax and penetrate muscles throughout the body, particularly leg muscles. The convex shape of the handle makes it easier to hold and prevents any skidding or sliding around during use.
People around the world use muscle roller sticks to aid muscle recovery after exercise and to accelerate healing. They’re specifically made to target the calves, hamstrings, glutes, and quads. The one main drawback is the need to do all the work yourself rather than sitting back and relaxing while the massager does the work for you. The final highlight of owning the IDSON massage stick is the 100% money-back guarantee.
- Superb for relieving general muscle soreness and stiffness
- Very lightweight, yet rigid enough for a deep tissue massage
- Despite it being non-electric, it makes massaging your own legs very easy, especially if your wake up in the middle of the night due to RLS discomfort
- The grooves in the rollers penetrate muscles effectively
- A good, affordable tool for helping to ease RLS flare-ups
- Great for use before bed to fall asleep faster
- Relaxes major muscle groups like a champ
- Calms leg muscles at night and in the wee hours when it’s needed the most
- It can pinch leg hair since the rollers are independent
- You might prefer softer foam rollers
- Several reports about the rollers no longer rolling
- The quality of the materials might not meet your expectations
Final Thoughts
Since there are various causes of RLS, including iron deficiency and certain medications, it’s important to understand what’s causing your RLS symptoms to choose the best leg massager for restless leg syndrome. All of the massagers in this guide work quite well to relax, calm, and penetrate leg muscles on autopilot and manually. By taking the lists of pros & cons in each product review into account before choosing a unit, you give yourself the best chance of choosing the right massager the first time.
For example, you may find that the Cloud and Reflex SOL units are too intense, or you may love them. People with higher pain thresholds and younger folks typically prefer the deeper massage offered by powered rollers, while the elderly and frail individuals may not. Once you assess your situation, you’ll know for sure which massager in this guide will serve you best.
If you have my kind of RLS, you have to have “equipment” that will inflate and deflate, AND pound,massage, vibrate, all and everything at different times. I have it in legs of course, and forearms to shoulders, back of shoulders. I’m too old to reach with the hand held vibrator to reach back where I’ve got RLS in y back and sometimes hips, so there you go. Sure glad ‘m a Christian so I DON’T MIND DYING. Good luck on your sales.
Hello Mary, thank you for sharing these valuable tips, and as your fellow Christian, I hope you hang around!