Disclosed herein are systems and methods for reducing effects of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a subject. The method includes identifying, on the subject, a body region affected by RLS, placing an emitter unit in direct contact with skin of the body region, wherein the emitter unit includes at least one emitter that emits near-infrared light, and activating the emitter to emit an effective amount of near-infrared light for inducing release of nitric oxide from hemoglobin or generation in the endothelium. Also disclosed is an emitter unit that is placed in direct contact with a subject's skin associated with RLS to reduce the effects of RLS. The emitter unit emits an effective amount of near-infrared light directed to the subject's skin to induce release of nitric oxide from hemoglobin or generation in the endothelium, and a module configured to toggle the emitter unit between a transmitting and a nontransmitting mode.
