Does Release417 help for RLS?

In this blog I tell a bit more about my recent experiences with the Release417. The creator and owner of this fabric strap gave me the opportunity to test one.

I was happy with that, because the release band is temporarily not for sale due to circumstances and I also have a very tight budget anyway. In return, I promised him to write a blog. Here is the result.

What is a Release417

The Release417 is a strap with a partial bulge. You put the band around your thigh, with the thickening on the inside of the leg. The band is supposed to be pretty tight.

The idea is that the pressure on the inside of the thigh gives the brain a signal via a nerve pathway. From that moment on, certain substances are produced in your body. These are endorphins and opioid peptides. These substances can make you feel your symptoms of RLS less.

The release band is made of skin-friendly material. Three sizes are available. If the largest size is not big enough, an extender can be used that gives 5 centimeters of extra room.

You can use the strap when you are in bed, but also, for example, if you have to sit for longer in the evening or during a plane trip.

Ideally, the Release417 ensures that you do not need (or less) medication. The complaints do not go away, but become more bearable if things go well.

Regular belt versus Release417

There are fellow sufferers who experiment with more or less success with the use of their own straps or belts. For example, some manufacture their own solution to use for the arms, because the release band is not suitable for that.

The question is what the effect of long-term use of a self-made belt is on the skin. Such a strap may be cheaper, but it may also be less suitable for long-term use.

The first night

After receiving it, I decide to try the release band that same night. In the afternoon I find out how to put on the belt. That turns out to be very simple.

The creator and owner René van Alphen has given me a separate instruction. The tire is not quite the right size for me. I actually have to have a medium and this is a small. However, it is the only tire he had left that came close to my size.

His instruction is to put on the Release417 about four inches above the knee, with the bulge on the inside of the thigh. Normally the band should be placed a lot higher on the leg, but René hopes it will also work this way.

After an initial period of sleep, I wake up with restless legs as usual. Then, when I’ve put on the release band, I take my time to feel if something is happening.

After a while I think I notice something. In the calf of the leg around which the band is wrapped, I can feel a pleasant, relaxing tingling sensation.

The effect is light, but fair is fair: I fall asleep with the band around my leg. However, after a sleep phase, I wake up just like usual with symptoms that arise. At that moment I am still wearing the release band.

The nights after that

The following nights I test the release band again, alternating between the left and right leg. The effect remains light.

The strap fits well when I wear it. That’s why I don’t mind testing a few days in a row. However, the effect is not enough for me to ensure that I no longer have to go out at night for a period of time.

I wonder what it would be like if I wore a band on both legs at the same time.

Extender

Because I wear the Release417 lower on the thigh than is officially instructed on the website, I check out if I can create some extra space with an extra (supplied) piece of Velcro. That way I can put the band a little higher on the leg. Maybe that works better.

It turns out (for me) a little fiddling with the Velcro. In the end I manage to put on the release band higher on the thigh. With this adjustment, the tire can be placed in the position as stated in the instruction on the website.

The effect is minimal at first. However, I know that sometimes you have to test a little longer, so I decide to test it again the following nights.

Even those nights, the effect of the Release417 remains quite small for me.

Conclusion

With a tool like the Release417 you know in advance that there is a group of users with whom it works well and a group with whom it is less successful. It’s not always clear why something works or doesn’t work for someone at any given time.

All in all I have to conclude that I belong to the group in which the release band does not have the effect you might hope for.

That’s not to say it’s the same for another fellow sufferer trying out the band. I know that there are fellow sufferers who really benefit from it. They use the belt in addition to the other things that they have found over time to relieve their symptoms somewhat.

That is the best thing to do for RLS, because there is as yet no cure that will make the condition go away completely.

I still think the Release417 is a great option to try if you have the opportunity. It is a good quality product that is simple and comfortable to use.

At the time of writing this blog, the band is temporarily not for sale due to circumstances. If this is the case again, I would definitely give it a try.

Even if you only use it for a certain period of time, I think it’s worth it, provided you can afford it financially of course. However, I think it’s well worth the cost if you’re one of the lucky few that the release band works for.