What to do with varicose veins on the legs: therapeutic exercises and how to bandage the legs

This disease of peripheral veins is not only a frequent companion of those who are forced to spend most of the day on their feet. Varicose veins are also diagnosed in people leading a “sedentary" lifestyle.

Recommendations for varicose veins and how to bandage your legs with an elastic bandage

Varicose veins is a disease of peripheral veins that leads to an increase in their lumen and thinning of the wall, as well as to deformation (the formation of convolutions and knots).

With varicose veins, a characteristic vascular network appears on the skin, by the end of the day there are heaviness and pulling pains in the lower extremities, the legs swell, the skin becomes dense, shiny, darkens or acquires a bluish tint. Treatment in this case is prescribed only by a doctor.

What to do with varicose veins to remove painful symptoms? How to bandage with an elastic bandage for varicose veins, and what exercises to perform to alleviate the condition?

Below you will find some recommendations for general varicose veins:

• Wear comfortable shoes with heels no higher than 5-6 cm and go barefoot more often.
• Try to avoid hypothermia and overheating of the legs.
• Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Drink 2-2.5 liters of pure non-carbonated water daily.
• Try to walk up the stairs without using the elevator.
• Avoid hot baths. Wash your feet with cool water.
• Do in the morning circular movements with your feet, flexion and extension of the ankle, knee and hip joints.
• Try to stand still less and move more.
• What else can be done with varicose veins on the legs is to gently massage the legs from the ankles to the knees in the evenings.
• During rest and sleep, keep your legs elevated (place a cushion or sofa cushion under them).
• Soak your feet in cool water or rub them with ice cubes.
• In the evening, do cold foot baths with decoctions of chamomile, sage, oak bark.
• If your doctor has advised you to wear compression stockings, stockings, or tights, remember to put them on in the morning before you get out of bed. Make sure that they fit snugly around the shin and are a little looser in the thigh area.

If your doctor has advised you to wear compression stockings, stockings, or tights, remember to put them on in the morning before you get out of bed. Make sure that they fit snugly around the shin and are a little looser in the thigh area.

If instead of compression underwear you use an elastic bandage, follow the following rule: the legs begin to be bandaged from the ankle joint, then go to the foot and return back to the lower leg, tightening the bandage quite tightly. The heel must be closed. It is necessary to bandage up to the middle of the thigh, and here the bandage should lie down weaker – in order to reduce the load on the blood vessels. Before you bandage your legs with varicose veins, do not forget that if the bandage is tightened equally tight along the entire length of the leg, the effect is the opposite.

Therapeutic exercises for varicose veins of the lower extremities

The complex of therapeutic exercises for varicose veins of the lower extremities includes the following exercises.

1 Walk on toes only for 1 minute, then walk on heels only for 1 minute. Repeat 2-3 times.

2 "Birch". Sit on the floor, feet together, hands resting on the floor. Roll onto your back (hands rest on the lower back). Bend your legs, pressing your knees to your face. Straighten your legs and lift them up, standing on your shoulder blades. Bend your legs again, roll onto your back and sit down, straightening your legs. Repeat 3-5 times.

3 Lie on your back, legs extended, arms along the body. When performing this exercise from the complex of therapeutic exercises for varicose veins, you need to alternately pull the right and left knees to the chest, clasping it with your hands. Repeat 5-10 times.

4 Lie on your back, legs extended, arms along the body. Bend your knees, pull them to your chest and move your legs as if you were riding a bicycle.

5 Lie on your back, legs extended, arms along the body. Slowly bend your knees, feet remain on the floor. Pull the legs to the stomach – inhale, straighten the legs and spread them apart – exhale. Repeat 3-5 times.

6 Lie on your back, legs extended, arms along the body. Slowly raise the straight right leg – inhale, lower it – exhale. Repeat 3-5 times for each leg.

7 Lie on your right side with your right hand under your head. Straighten your legs and pull your socks towards you. Raise your left leg about 10-15 cm and straighten it. Perform circular movements with a straight leg: 8 times clockwise and 8 times in the opposite direction. Rest for 15-30 seconds, then roll over to the other side and repeat the exercise for the right leg.