Comparative Effects of Aerobic and Muscle Relaxation Exercises in Pregnant Women With Restless Leg Syndrome

This study will be a randomized controlled trial and will be conducted in the Gynecology and Physiotherapy departments of Valencia Health Clinic, Lahore. Non-probability purposive sampling will be used to collect data. A total of 40 pregnant women aged between 20-35 years, in their 2nd or 3rd trimester and clinically diagnosed with RLS, will be included after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria and giving informed consent. Subjects will be randomly divided into two groups using a random number generator table. Group A will receive supervised aerobic exercises for 8 weeks while Group B will undergo progressive muscle relaxation sessions of 20- 25 minutes, also 3 times a week for 8-weeks. Both groups will be assessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention.

Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome based on clinical criteria. * Gestational age between 20 to 34 weeks. * Age range between 20-40 years. * Experiencing moderate to severe sleep disturbance as per Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI score \>5). * Complaints of fatigue and generalized discomfort during pregnancy. Exclusion Criteria: * High-risk pregnancy or obstetric complications (e.g., preeclampsia, placenta previa). * History of neurological or musculoskeletal disorders unrelated to pregnancy. * Any psychiatric disorder or currently taking sedative medications. * History of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or thyroid dysfunction. * Participation in any structured exercise program or physiotherapy within the last 3 months.