How Varicose Veins Affect Your Fitness

Runner with painful varicose veins

The appearance of varicose veins can affect a person’s life in many ways. Not only does the discoloration on the legs look unattractive, but the pain associated with this condition can also hinder you from performing daily activities, such as walking or running.

If left untreated, varicose veins can even lead to more complicated conditions. Fortunately, natural remedies and medical treatments can help restore natural blood flow in the legs to reduce the appearance of varicose veins.

It’s essential to understand how varicose veins can affect your fitness and lifestyle so you can take precautions and identify if you’re more susceptible to developing this condition.

Varicose Veins Can Hinder Physical Movement

People who have varicose veins can experience pain or discomfort in their legs, preventing them from moving comfortably.

Varicose veins may develop as a result of weak or damaged valves, which hinder proper blood flow in the legs. When the arteries that carry blood gets obstructed, pressure on the legs’ veins can increase. This, then, leads to inflamed or enlarged blood vessels that are often painful and cause muscle soreness and cramps.

People who suffer from varicose veins find it challenging to move around or apply constant pressure on their legs. It can also make walking or running difficult since it strains the legs and the inflamed veins. Furthermore, it can prevent you from working out, especially if your exercise regimen involved heavy weight lifting or constant movement in the legs.

If you’ve been experiencing too much pain in your legs and it has been interrupting your daily life, you can search for ‘varicose vein treatment near me.’ This will help you find any hospitals or clinics in your area that offer treatments for varicose veins.

Less Physical Activity Can Lead to Varicose Veins

Aside from natural factors, such as pregnancy and menopause, your lifestyle can also increase your risk of developing varicose veins.

Long periods of standing or sitting and lack of physical activities can lead to the development of varicose veins since the legs’ blood flow isn’t stimulated properly. If you sit or stand at work for hours, it’s likely that you’ll develop varicose veins over time.

Those on the heavier side are also more likely to have blocked veins in their lower extremities. The added weight and pressure on the legs can prevent blood from flowing upwards, which leads to swelled or twisted veins.

Since exercise can help manage your weight, exercising regularly can help decrease your risk of developing varicose veins.

couple running upstairs on city stairs

Pushes You To Exercise

As mentioned, one natural remedy to get rid of varicose veins is to exercise regularly. Constant movement and exercise that targets the legs, such as walking or cycling, may be beneficial for those at risk of developing varicose veins.

Working out frequently will also help manage your weight, which can decrease your risk of developing this condition.

Most people who have mild cases of varicose veins are encouraged to have some form of movement to improve the blood flow in their blood vessels. Complications from varicose veins, such as blood clots or cramps, can also be avoided with regular exercise.

Are There Treatments For Varicose Veins?

Aside from self-care, which involves exercising and practicing healthy lifestyle habits, there are also other ways to treat varicose veins.

  • Compression Stockings: People who wish to rid of their varicose veins can use compression stockings to help blood in the legs flow more efficiently. It also helps decrease the pain and occurrence of muscle cramps that are often caused by swelled blood vessels.
  • Sclerotherapy: A non-invasive treatment for varicose veins involves injecting a solution or foam into small and medium-sized veins to allow the swelling to subside. It may take multiple sessions of this treatment before varicose veins can completely fade.
  • Laser Treatment: Another treatment that can get rid of varicose veins is laser treatment. This works by sending bursts of light onto the affected vein to fade the discolored or twisted appearance of the veins.
  • Radio Frequency Treatment Using A Catheter: Treatments for larger varicose veins usually use a thin tube inserted on the vein that heats up to collapse a swelled vein and seal shut. This treatment can restore the normal blood flow on large veins that have obstructed or damaged the valves.


Having varicose veins can interfere with your day-to-day life. For instance, it can prevent you from performing even the most basic activities and may even cause more severe health complications if left untreated. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent this condition from affecting your daily life.

Exercising regularly and avoiding prolonged periods of standing and sitting. With the right lifestyle and knowledge about varicose veins, you can significantly reduce your chances of having this condition.

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