Having varicose veins on your legs can make simple tasks like, walking, sitting and even exercising extremely difficult. However, whether you’re trying to prevent varicose veins from forming or are attempting to manage those that have already developed, staying active and following a regular workout plan is key!
To help make exercising with varicose veins more comfortable and safe, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Wear compression stockings. Compression stockings encompass your legs, squeezing them in order to keep your blood from pooling in the veins that can cause varicose veins to form over time.
Don’t forget to stretch. Giving your muscles a good stretch before any sort of workout will help your blood flow more freely. Stretching increases your heart rate which allows your blood to become more oxygenated as it flows through your veins.
Start out with cardio. Walking is the best exercise you can do when it comes to your vascular health, and it also doubles as a pretty great warm up! Walking briskly for 10-20 minutes can help reduce the chance of swelling in the veins as you move ahead in your workout.
Keep your body inverted. Instead of exercising or lifting on your feet, try using exercise equipment that allows you to position your legs up above chest level. Exercises like the seated leg press, quad or hamstring machines all help to keep your legs elevated and reduce pressure on your veins.
Avoid heavy lifting. While moderately heavy weights may be doable depending on your strength and the severity of your varicose veins, heavy lifting is a big no-no. Lifting beyond your body’s capability can collapse your muscles and put excess strain on your vascular system.
If you’re tired of unsightly or painful varicose veins, Advanced Dermatology is here to help. As a leading vascular surgeon at Long Island’s #1 vein practice, Dr. John Gallagher offers corrective vein treatment procedures to patients throughout Long Island, Queens and the surrounding areas.