Can exercise cause varicose veins?

While we often promote exercise as a way of helping to prevent your risk of developing varicose veins, it can often come as a surprise to many patients who are very healthy and active but have still developed varicose veins.

Varicose veins are caused by weak vein walls and valves. So whilst it is impossible for exercise to be the direct cause of varicose veins, the type of exercise that you partake in can increase your risk of developing varicose veins or make varicose veins that you already have worse.

Exercises to avoid 

Any type of exercise or activity that decreases the circulation in your legs or puts pressure on your veins is best to be avoided or at least not performed regularly. These include:

• Weight Lifting – Heavy weights can put excessive strain on your body and veins. If you are at risk of developing varicose veins or already have them then it is best to choose lighter weights and instead just increase your reps. Wearing compression socks and combining aerobic exercise to encourage blood circulation post-weight training are other options.
• Running – Running is a great form of exercise but high-impact running or running for an increased period of time can put added pressure on your veins and joints. We recommend not running for long periods, running on a softer surface such as a track or grass and wearing compression socks.
• Squats – Squats are a popular form of exercise, but leg squats can put pressure on your veins and can cause venous reflux which is when there is a reversal of blood flow in the legs. Venous reflux can then lead to varicose veins. If squats do form part of your exercise routine, then we would recommend short reps and combining them with aerobic activity to encourage healthy blood flow.
• Sit ups and Crunches – Like squats, sit-ups and crunches can worsen venous reflux and should ideally be avoided or should be combined with aerobic exercise.

Exercises that can help

If you have varicose veins or at a heightened risk of developing varicose veins then it is best to stick to exercises that promote good vein health by improving blood circulation.

• Swimming – Exercising in water not only gets you off your feet but it helps to work your leg and calf muscles allowing blood flow to return to your heart.
• Walking – Going for a walk is often considered to be one of the best forms of exercise to help improve circulation.
• Cycling – Whether you are moving or stationary, cycling is great for working the calf and leg muscles which improves circulation without putting strain on your joints.
• Dancing – Dancing is a great mood-booster and can be social activity too whilst improving blood circulation.

If exercising is not part of your daily routine, then there are lots of other things you can do to try and reduce your risk of developing varicose veins. Wearing compression stockings, rolling your ankles/feet to activate the calf when you are standing or sitting and avoiding high-heeled shoes can all help to improve blood circulation.

If you already have varicose veins and are concerned about exercise, then ultimately the best way to remove the risk of them getting worse is to get them treated.

At The Private Clinic, we offer a range of varicose veins treatments including:

• EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation)
• VenaSeal
• Phlebectomy
• Foam Sclerotherapy

Our team of expert vascular surgeons will create a bespoke treatment plan that is best suited to you.

All of our varicose vein treatments are performed in-clinic under local anaesthetic as day case procedures. We offer industry-leading aftercare with low recurrence rates and multiple successful outcomes.

Varicose Vein Treatment Results

Why choose The Private Clinic for Varicose Vein Removal?

At the Private Clinic, we have over 40 years of experience providing the best and latest vein removal treatments and have treated over 7,000 patients concerned about their veins. We work with highly qualified consultant vascular surgeons who have extensive experience in their field.
In our Harley Street clinic in London, we perform all the varicose vein removal treatments listed. At The Private Clinic we provide:

• We are able to offer some of the least invasive methods for varicose veins and thread veins for your legs, body, and face.
• No lengthy downtime or recovery required.
• Our Consultant vascular surgeons are pioneers in EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) and have treated thousands of patients.
• We focus on the underlying cause of your veins, and you will only see a Consultant Vascular surgeon for varicose veins.
• The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Gold Standard for treatment of Varicose Veins findings shows that the success rate after five years for EVLA is 95.4%.
• A consultation with one of our Consultant Vascular Surgeons costs £200, including a free ultrasound scan of your legs (usually priced between £350 and £450 at most clinics and private hospitals).
• Treatment takes on average 30-60 minutes; you can go home shortly after being treated.
• We have been featured in several TV shows and press including Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, TLC’s My Naked Secret and have been recently featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends for 2019.
• We have been able to restore the confidence in many of our patients by avoiding health issues and achieving remarkable results.
• We are able to offer finance solutions with manageable payments to suit a variety of budgets.
• View our extensive varicose vein FAQs
• See our previous varicose vein patient stories
• View varicose vein before and after photo results
• View our varicose veins blogs for more information
• Download our varicose vein treatment brochure

Consultant Vascular Surgeons at The Private Clinic

• Mr Dynesh Rittoo, MBChB, FRCS(Eng), FRCS (Gen Surg). GMC 3556456
• Professor Rajiv Kumar Vohra, MBBS. GMC Number: 3158700
• Mr Tahir Hussain, MBBS, MS, FRCS. GMC Number: 3242669
• Mr Rajiv Pathak, MBBS, MS, FRCS, FRCS(Gen). GMC Number: 4585309
• Mr Ferdinand Serracino-Inglott, MD, FRCSI, FRCS(Gen), DIC MSc. GMC Number: 5206200
• Mr Duncan Parry, MBChB, MD, FRCS, PG Cert Medical Ultrasound, PG Cert Medical Research, GMC Number: 4037844
• Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, MD, FRCS(Gen). GMC 3275436

The Private Clinic offers varicose vein removal consultations at our clinics in: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Northampton and Leeds.

To find out more about varicose vein treatments or to book an veins appointment, please call 0333 920 2471 or use our online varicose vein contact form.