Walk to reduce leg swelling
By Dr. Sonja Stiller, Center for Advanced Vein Care
Due to the widespread inactivity associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are suffering with swollen ankles. At our practice, we’re seeing more and more of these patients, many of whom have been placed on diuretics by their primary care physician even when there is no accompany heart or lung condition.
Often, a better alternative is simply to get moving again.
Strengthening your calf muscle is essential to good venous health because the calf serves as your “second heart,” moving blood up and out of your lower legs—reducing swelling.
It’s okay to start small; you don’t have to head out and do a 5k the first day. Instead, just walk for five minutes every few hours either out in the yard or around the house. And you don’t need an expensive treadmill. You can set up your own “indoor track” through your house, maybe from your living room, down the hall to a bedroom, and back again.
You can also encourage movement by intentionally placing objects you need just out of reach, forcing you get up to get them. This can include keeping the remote by the television instead of by the sofa.
A good way to get in a few extra steps (and avoid the stress of competing for an up close parking space at the grocery store) is simply to park farther away.
Just a few minutes of walking each day can dramatically improve your overall health and reduce leg swelling—without taking a pill.
If you’re experiencing leg swelling or any of the following symptoms, give our office a call:
• chronic leg pain
• fatigue
• itching
• burning
• inflammation
• leg cramps
• Restless Leg Syndrome
Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System, located at 7200 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140. More info can be found at YourHealthyVeins.com.