As people age, varicose veins often become a common issue, especially in the legs. Because these swollen, twisted veins can cause discomfort, swelling, and pain, many people wonder if exercising is still safe. The encouraging news is that not only is exercise generally safe, but it can also improve symptoms associated with varicose veins. At The Vein Clinic of Greater Kansas City, we’ve created this guide to explain how exercise can benefit those with varicose veins, share some recommended activities, and identify exercises that should be avoided.
Can Exercise Worsen Varicose Veins?
In most cases, exercise is both safe and beneficial for individuals with varicose veins. Physical activity helps enhance circulation, reducing symptoms such as swelling and discomfort. However, it’s essential to approach exercise thoughtfully, particularly if you experience pain or other complications related to your varicose veins.
Understanding Varicose Veins
Knowing what causes varicose veins can help understand why some exercises may be best avoided. Varicose veins develop when vein valves become weakened or damaged, preventing blood from flowing properly and causing it to pool. Exercise can assist in improving circulation by helping the muscles pump blood through the veins. However, if you notice increased pain, cramping, or swelling during physical activity, it’s important to modify your routine and consult a healthcare professional. Overexertion or high-impact activities can exacerbate symptoms or even lead to complications like blood clots.
Exercises That Support Healthy Veins
There are several exercises that not only benefit overall health but are particularly helpful for those with varicose veins. The focus should be on promoting circulation without placing too much strain on your veins. Here are some excellent options:
Walking: This is a great low-impact option that stimulates circulation and strengthens the leg muscles, which aids vein function. Aim for a 30-minute daily walk to keep your blood flowing and minimize symptoms.
Swimming: Swimming offers a full-body, low-impact workout that helps tone muscles and improve circulation while minimizing pressure on your veins.
Cycling: Whether riding outdoors or on a stationary bike, cycling enhances leg circulation by engaging the calf muscles, which help push blood through the veins.
Yoga: Certain yoga poses, such as the legs-up-the-wall position (Viparita Karani), can boost circulation and encourage blood flow back to the heart, reducing pooling in the legs.
Stretching: Regular stretching improves flexibility and muscle tone, which can support healthy circulation. Focus on stretches that target the calves, hamstrings, and ankles.
Exercises to Avoid
While staying active is beneficial, there are certain exercises that can aggravate varicose veins by increasing pressure on the legs. Here are some activities to steer clear of:
Running or jogging on hard surfaces: Although running is a great cardio workout, doing so on hard surfaces like pavement can put strain on the veins. Consider switching to a treadmill or running on soft surfaces like grass.
Weightlifting: Lifting heavy weights can increase pressure in the abdomen, which in turn raises pressure in the leg veins. If weightlifting is part of your fitness routine, try lifting lighter weights with more repetitions.
High-impact aerobics: Exercises involving jumping or sudden movements may worsen symptoms. Instead, opt for low-impact alternatives like swimming or cycling.
Benefits of Exercising with Varicose Veins
Exercising with varicose veins can help alleviate symptoms and promote better leg health. Here are some of the key benefits:
Enhanced circulation: Regular physical activity keeps blood moving, preventing it from pooling in the veins. Improved circulation can reduce swelling and pain.
Muscle strengthening: Strengthening leg muscles, particularly the calves, supports proper blood flow by assisting the veins in pumping blood back to the heart.
Reduced swelling: Exercise can help minimize fluid retention in the legs, decreasing swelling and discomfort.
Pain relief: Moderate exercise may ease the aching and throbbing commonly associated with varicose veins.
Weight control: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the strain on your veins, helping to prevent varicose veins from worsening.
Varicose Veins Need Professional Treatment
It’s important to remember that varicose veins will not heal on their own. They are a sign of chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which the valves inside the veins weaken and allow blood to pool. While exercise can help manage the symptoms, varicose veins tend to worsen over time without treatment.
Treatment Options for Varicose Veins
If your varicose veins become too painful or difficult to manage, several treatments are available to provide relief. At The Vein Clinic of Greater Kansas City, Dr. Barbieri offers a range of treatments for varicose veins:
Compression Stockings
Compression stockings are often the first step in managing varicose veins, applying gentle pressure to improve circulation and reduce swelling.
Radio Frequency Ablation
With RFA, we heat the vein wall using temperature-controlled radio-frequency energy. This heat shrinks the vein and seals it shut. The closed vein is treated as waste by the body and is absorbed over time.
Laser Vein Ablation
Rather than radiofrequency energy, a laser fiber heats up the length of the vein causing it to close up and shrink.
Varithena Chemical Ablation
We use Varithena chemical ablation for veins that cannot be treated with radiofrequency or laser ablation. We place a specialized chemical foam into the vein which causes the vein to collapse and shrink.
Sclerotherapy
With sclerotherapy, we place a chemical liquid into the veins causing them to close. This treatment is used on varicose veins when an ablation cannot be utilized, or on problematic skin surface veins.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Unlike ablation, ambulatory phlebectomy is the physical removal of the veins. This is an outpatient procedure as well, performed in our office. The skin is numbed and very small punctures are made to remove the vein. This procedure takes one to two hours, no stitches are necessary and minimal downtime is required.