Tired Aching Legs

Leg health problems associated with leg veins are very common and the good news is that many can be avoided or eliminated by simple exercises, good leg care and through the wearing of Activa compression hosiery.

It has been estimated that around 50% of the western population- male and female - are likely to experience venous leg problems during their life time.

This is due to the fact that we have evolved to walk upright, which means that gravity is constantly pushing blood away from the heart down into the legs. This pooling makes legs feel heavy and tired. Early symptoms of this are thread or spider veins and varicose veins, which are veins stretched by the back flow of blood.

Activa compression hosiery may help you if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Tired, aching legs, especially at the end of the day
• Reddish/brown staining above the ankle
• Sores that appear within the stained skin
• Itchy patches above the ankle
• Wounds or knocks that are slow to heal
• Visible and painful varicose veins
• Throbbing and/or swollen legs

If some of this sounds familiar, you may have problems with the veins in your lower legs - they may not be working as efficiently as they should be.

Activa class 1 or 2 socks and hosiery - patterned, ribbed or plain could make your legs stay healthy and feel great. They can be purchased on line or available on prescription.

Would Activa compression hosiery help me?

Activa offers a range of attractive and comfortable compression hosiery which is very effective at relieving tired and aching legs. The hosiery helps blood flow up the legs, which stops it “pooling” making the legs feel heavy. Those travelling long distances can benefit from wearing support tights or a product such as the Unisex Sock to help prevent deep vein thrombosis. Activa hosiery can be bought on line.

Here are some tips on keeping your legs healthy and reducing aches and pains.

Do...

regularly moisturise your legs

walk and exercise regularly

eat a balanced diet and watch your weight

put your feet up

check your legs and feet regularly

get treatment for any knocks or sores particularly if you suffer from diabetes

Don’t..

cross your legs for long periods

stand still for long periods

have very hot baths

ignore any sores or irritations

assume that your leg will just get better by itself

smoke

remain inactive for extended periods, e.g. long journeys

What can I do to keep my legs from aching?

Staying active helps to promote healthy circulation and, by exercising your calf muscles, you can help to pump the blood in your legs back to the heart and ease any aching feelings. Whenever possible try to elevate your legs during rest periods between exercises. Compression hosiery assists circulation and can stop legs aching.

Who gets tired legs?

Anyone can get tired legs, but those who stand for long periods of time, such as shop assistants, hairdressers and nurses are often more susceptible to tired and aching legs. During long periods of inactivity blood can pool in the veins of the leg, causing a feeling of heaviness and swelling in some cases. It is also important to keep an eye on tired, aching legs after long distance travel, as this can potentially be a warning of more serious problems such as deep vein thrombosis.

Varicose veins are often hereditary, so if your parents suffered then it is likely that you will too. Regular wearing of compression hosiery can stop varicose veins becoming worse.

What are the causes of aching legs?

Poor circulation is the main cause of aching legs, made worse by factors such as smoking, obesity, a lack of exercise and a poor diet. High blood pressure and high cholesterol may also be linked to tired, aching legs. By exercising to improve blood circulation in the legs and by wearing appropriate compression hosiery, aches and pains can hopefully be reduced.

What types of exercises should I do to help prevent tired aching legs?

There are simple, effective exercise movements that you can do to increase circulation in the legs. You can do these two exercises either sitting or lying.

Firstly, flex your foot up and down then rotate your ankle to provide full circulation to your legs. Alternatively, you can also stand up and move your foot up and down, stretching the calf muscle.

An Activa British Standard class 1 (14-17mmHg) can be recommended for tired aching legs, provided the wearer does not have heart problems, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. If they have any of these conditions then a full holistic assessment, including Doppler ultrasound, is recommended.

If problems such as varicose veins or swelling etc are present, higher compression levels would be recommended - providing the full assessments mentioned above concluded it was safe to apply compression to the legs.

The Activa British Standard range is available in a range of colours and styles. Offering choice is vital to assist compliance and hosiery such as our patterned and ribbed socks are very popular for their appearance, comfort and clinical effectiveness.

If a patient has swollen legs this could be a result of some lymphatic failure and the ActiLymph range may be more suitable with the compression values and fabric stiffness to manage oedema. As always, a full holistic assessment and Doppler ultrasound are recommended.