January 13, 2016
Sitting and standing for long periods of time can be detrimental to your vascular health. While it’s important to make time for breaks during the workday, it can be difficult to pull away for long enough to squeeze in a short walk. Livestrong.com offers a few great tips to try throughout the day that will help keep your veins strong:
- Individual Leg Lifts – Raise one leg straight in front of you, hold and count to five. Increase leg height for an extra stretch and repeat for five more seconds. Alternate legs every 10 seconds, 10 times per leg.
- Knee Raises – Lift your knee toward your chest, raising it as high as possible. Hold for five seconds, and then slowly lower your leg. Alternate knees every five seconds, 10 times per knee.
- Squats – Stand and do air squats next to your desk. There are different ways to squat, so find one that works best for you. One way is to use your chair as an aid, if you’re a beginner. First, push it against a wall and stand in front, facing away from the chair. Then, mimic a sitting motion and squat just until you reach your chair before straightening back up. Do this 10 times.
- Thigh Squeeze – Place a small rubber ball between your knees. Hold it in place and squeeze with your knees. Hold the squeeze for five seconds. Repeat this 12 times.
The American Heart Association suggests staying active for 150 minutes per week, which is about 30 minutes per day, five days a week. Add these simple exercises to your day for added activity throughout the week. If you’re concerned about your vein health, please give us a call to schedule an appointment today: 907-561-3211.