Walking is beneficial for people with varicose veins

Walking is beneficial for people with venous insufficiency, blood is pushed back to the heart, reducing stagnation and pressure in the superficial venous system.

According to Dr. Le Thanh Phong, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, lower limb venous insufficiency is very common. This is a chronic disease that significantly affects the patient's quality of life. Effective treatment requires a combination of many measures, in which lifestyle changes play a fundamental role.

Walking is a gentle exercise that brings many benefits, so it is chosen by most people to practice. Most patients after suffering from varicose veins have given up the habit of walking, and some people even do not dare to exercise for fear of making the disease worse. Even medical specialists have different opinions on this issue.

Walking is a gentle exercise that brings many benefits, so it is chosen by most people to practice. (Photo: KT)

Dr. Phong explained that the venous system is structured as a network of tubular structures. Small veins in the distance will lead blood to larger veins, then flow back to the heart. There are valves in the veins of the lower limbs. The valves are made up of two leaflets that look like bags, with the concave side facing up. One part of the leaflet is attached to the vein wall, the other part is free in the vein.

The venous system of the lower limbs includes superficial, deep, and perforating veins. Superficial veins lie just beneath the skin. Deep veins lie deep within the muscle compartments of the limbs. Perforating veins branch from the superficial venous system to the deep veins.

When we stand upright, the blood in our veins must overcome gravity to flow back to the heart. To do this, the muscles must squeeze the deep veins in our legs and feet in sync with the opening and closing of the venous valves. When the muscles in our legs contract, the valves in our veins open. When the muscles relax, the valves close, preventing the blood from flowing back down. The entire process of returning blood to the heart is called the venous pump. By working in this way, the valves create a one-way flow system from bottom to top and from shallow to deep.

Venous insufficiency occurs when the valves in the veins fail to close properly. Blood then flows backward through the leaky valves, causing stagnation and increased venous pressure. Deep veins can tolerate increased pressure, while superficial veins, which are surrounded by loose connective tissue, become dilated and inflamed.

The phenomenon of blood stasis increases venous pressure, causing pain, discomfort, superficial varicose veins, leg swelling, changes in skin condition and ulcers. Therefore, the treatment methods for venous insufficiency are all aimed at overcoming the condition of increased venous pressure due to stasis.

How walking affects veins

The volume and pressure in the veins change during walking. In a standing position, the foot is in contact with the ground and there is no venous flow. When the heel is raised, blood from the venous plexus below the heel and the sole of the foot (Bejar's plexus) is pushed up into the deep veins of the calf. Then, the contraction of the calf muscles pushes the blood back into the veins of the thigh. In this way, the blood flows to the higher veins, then to the heart.

Muscle contraction during walking helps the venous pump work effectively. The pressure of the muscles on the deep venous system measured during active movement is much higher than when standing still. This helps the blood to be pushed back to the heart, reducing stagnation and pressure in the superficial venous system.

In an experiment to evaluate the change in superficial venous pressure during walking, a plastic needle was inserted into the superficial vein of the foot of a person and connected to a column of water. In a standing position, the water column rose to the level of the heart. When the ankle was repeatedly flexed and extended, the water column decreased by 50-60%. This experiment simulating walking showed that the pressure in the superficial venous system decreased significantly during movement.

Thus, walking helps push blood from the deep venous system back to the heart better, reducing the pressure of the superficial venous system. Thereby reducing the symptoms and clinical manifestations of venous insufficiency.

Most patients with varicose veins report feeling better after a period of walking and changing their lifestyle. For example, Ms. Van suffered from varicose veins that caused pain and discomfort in both legs. She had treatment 2 years ago but the condition did not improve. Recently, she combined treatment and lifestyle changes, practicing walking as advised by her doctor. After a short period of time, the pain was significantly reduced. The patient continued to walk and climb stairs every day and the symptoms improved significantly.

Recent research updated in the medical literature shows that people with chronic venous insufficiency who walk less than 10 minutes a day have a higher risk of leg ulcers than those who maintain more than 10 minutes of active physical activity. Vascular surgery societies around the world recommend that patients with venous insufficiency should walk.

Note: If the patient is not used to walking, they should start slowly, then gradually increase the duration and distance. In the early stages, they may feel discomfort or pain in the legs, but this will gradually improve. Walking requires flexible movement of the ankle to be effective. People with leg ulcers due to venous insufficiency will have limited ankle movement, so they need ankle physical therapy and pain relief therapy before walking./.

According to VnExpress