Physical Therapy For Varicose Veins

Varicose veins can be very painful and make day to day living very challenging.

Other times, varicose veins are an aesthetic concern that you want to overcome.

Capitol Physical Therapy has a wide selection of pain management physical therapy if you find that you’re not as pain free as you would like to be.

Physical therapy for varicose veins is a natural and effective method to help strengthen the valves in your veins and instigate blood flow.

Now, let’s keep reading to find out more.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are veins near the surface of your skin that have become enlarged and twisted.

That is what it means to become varicosed and it can happen to any vein near your skin’s surface.

Sometimes varicose veins can be a cosmetic concern, and other times they can cause aching pain and discomfort.

It is also possible for varicose veins to lead to serious health problems like ulcers, blood clots, and bleeding.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are caused by weak or damaged valves in your veins.

Your arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body, while your veins return blood to your heart.

The valves in your veins open as blood flows towards your heart and then they close to stop blood from flowing backwards.

When these valves are weak or damaged, blood flows back and pools in your veins.

This causes your veins to stretch and twist.

Varicose veins are most often found in your legs because the veins in your legs have to work extra hard to fight gravity in order to return your blood to your heart.

How Do I Know I Have Varicose Veins?

If you have dark purple or blue veins that appear twisted and bulging, then you probably have varicose veins.

This is different from spider veins, which are similar but much smaller and often red or blue.

Sometimes they are only aesthetic and so you won’t feel anything other than visually seeing them.

Other times, you might notice:

• Itching around one or more of your visible veins
• A heavy or achy feeling in your legs
• Pain after sitting or standing for a long time
• Muscle cramping, burning, or swelling in your lower legs
• Skin colour changes around your visible vein

Can Physical Therapy Help With Varicose Veins?

Physical therapy is a natural method to help with varicose veins.

The main goal of treatment here is to improve your blood flow and circulation.

This should also reduce any swelling or discomfort you’re feeling and relieve the stress of the day from your legs.

There are five common and effective methods for using physical therapy to help with varicose veins.

1. Walking Exercises

Walking is one of the easiest forms of exercise that improves your blood circulation in your legs.

You should try to walk on soft surfaces that do not stress your joints and avoid potentially straining your knee.

Stairs are probably something to avoid for now.

Walking for just fifteen to thirty minutes each day can provide noticeable relief from the painful symptoms of varicose veins.

2. Swimming Exercises

There are many benefits of swimming to improving your physical health.

It’s a great, low impact activity that can help to push blocked blood in your legs back up to your heart.

You should focus on swimming horizontally, which will increase the blood flow out of your legs and help relieve your varicose veins.

3. Foot Exercises

Foot exercises are another great method to help relieve your varicose veins.

Your physical therapist will teach you how to do them either standing or sitting.

This is particularly easy on your body and so very helpful if you have other health challenges that make walking or swimming difficult.

4. Doing Leg Lifts

Left lifts can be done sitting or lying on your back.

If sitting, you’ll want to keep your back straight and lift your legs up to a 45 degree angle.

If you want to try them lying down, your physical therapist will show you how to raise one leg at a time in a perpendicular position.

There are a few different variations of each movement.

Plus, these movements will also strengthen your abdomen muscles.

5. Using A Compression Bandage

Finally, your physical therapist may also recommend using compression bandages to help reduce your varicose vein symptoms.

Compression bandages are tight garments worn around areas affected by varicose veins that provide relief during the initial stage of varicose veins through compression.

These bandages firmly squeeze the affected area and help your veins to circulate blood back up to your heart.

They will also reduce your discomfort, pain, and swelling.

Book Your Appointment With Capitol Physical Therapy Today

There’s lots of ways that physical therapy can help with varicose veins.

The sooner you notice them, the sooner you should find a physical therapist to help.

This is because it’s easier to slow the process down with compression bandages before they grow too large and start to be more than just an aesthetic concern.

If you want a professional to evaluate your symptoms, consider our team of experienced physical therapists at Capitol Physical Therapy.

Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy today.