Exercises for Vein Health

It’s no secret that exercising regularly is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and well-being. The benefits of moving your body daily seem almost unending. Strengthening your muscles and bones, aiding in weight loss, increasing your energy levels, and improving your mood are all excellent side effects of an active lifestyle. But did you know that doing the right exercises can also help with your varicose and spider veins? Because your leg muscles play such a vital role in pumping your blood from your legs back up to your heart, focusing on exercises that engage and work your calf muscles is the way to go. Let’s look at a few of the exercises that can promote healthy veins.

Walking – Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to get your blood pumping! It’s free, low impact, requires no additional equipment, and you can do it almost anywhere. Try taking a 30- minute walk at least 5 days a week. Another option is to get up and take a short, 5-minute walk multiple times throughout the day; this can be especially helpful if you work at a desk and are prone to sitting for long periods of time.

Cycling – Riding a bicycle is an excellent way to build the muscles in your calves and legs that help support your veins. Taking a daily 30-minute bicycle ride or jumping on the stationary bike at home or the gym is one of the best exercises your can do for your vein health.

Yoga – The stretching and muscle activation in yoga can certainly strengthen your leg muscles and increase your circulation. Some Yoga poses are also great for relieving inflammation and soreness that can accompany varicose and spider veins.

Calf Raises – Since your calf muscles are so important to good circulation, calf raises are a great exercise to do regularly. Calf raises can be done standing or seated, and a wall or a chair can be used to help with balance.

These are just a few of the exercises that promote vein health, but any exercise that works your calf muscles and gets your blood pumping will be beneficial. If you suffer from varicose veins or spider veins, starting a good habit of regularly working your leg muscles is a great place to start.
If exercising has been helpful, but you’re concerned that you need additional help with vein issues, be sure to contact General Surgeon Dr. Eston Wenger to set up an appointment. Give Dr. Wenger a call at Premier Surgical Associates of Cleveland, TN, at (423) 472-5423 or click here to request an appointment online.