The Do’s & Don’ts of Exercising for Healthy Veins

The Do’s & Don’ts of Exercising for Healthy Veins

 

The Do’s & Don’ts of Exercising for Healthy Veins

The best way to protect your legs from developing varicose and spider veins is by staying active and exercising regularly. However, don’t mistake all exercise efforts as having equal benefits. Failing to exercise properly or performing certain frowned upon exercises can actually have more repercussions than advantages to your vascular health.

Exercising for healthy veins - island vein specialists

To make sure your trip to the gym isn’t wasted, here are some quick tips on the do’s and don’ts of promoting healthy veins through exercise:

The Do’s:

  • DO wear compression socks to help your blood flow effectively through your legs and back up to your heart. Compression socks offer added support for your veins and are especially recommended for exercises that require a lot of sitting or standing still.
  • DO keep your legs elevated whenever possible. Machines like the leg press and others that allow your legs to remain level with or above your heart help reduce vein pressure and keep blood flowing while you workout.
  • DO hop on a bicycle if you have the chance. With fall weather in full swing, a leisurely bike ride is both enjoyable and beneficial to your vascular health. Not up for a ride outdoors? Try a stationary bike. Both options are great for stretching and strengthening your leg muscles without causing excessive stress on your joints.
  • DO take a walk once in awhile. Whether you make it a habit to take fido for a daily stroll, or are committed to the treadmill, walking is the best thing you can do to improve circulation in your legs.

The Don’ts:

  • DON’T hold your breath, especially while doing strenuous exercises. As a general rule, you should always practice proper breathing when doing any sort of physical activity to improve blood flow and avoid tensing up and straining your muscles.
  • DON’T run on hard surfaces for long periods of time. While walking is extremely beneficial for your veins, running can be harmful if done incorrectly. Running outdoors is great for your health, as long as you avoid the pavement and try to seek out softer surfaces, like grass, sand or a track designed for repetitive running.
  • DON’T lift heavy weights. Lifting heavy loads puts a lot of stress on your leg muscles, causing you to strain and put pressure on your veins. If you absolutely must lift weights, stay away from pumping so much iron and stick to lighter loads with less reps.

As you work to keep healthy exercise habits, are there any specific exercises that you find work wonders to make your veins healthy and strong? If so, we’d love to hear all about them in the comments below or on ourFacebook page!

If you already have varicose or spider veins that you’d like to get rid of,Island Vein Specialists offers a wide assortment of corrective vein procedures to patients on Long Island and in the surrounding areas.

To learn more about how we can help you prevent or treat venous conditions, click here to visit us on the web or call 631-482-9800 to schedule a consultation with Dr. John Gallagher today.