There is a lot of information about varicose veins. Special narrow-profile clinics have begun to open around the world to combat this pathology. It is not difficult to conclude that if specialized clinics began to open for the treatment of varicose veins, this means that the problem is widespread.
Let’s try to figure out what massage for varicose veins is and how to get rid of this pathology.
Indications
What is the attitude of professionals to massage in the presence of venous pathology? It should be noted that doctors react modestly and quite cautiously. No massage should be used to combat varicose veins. And in some cases, massage is completely contraindicated.
Its use for prophylaxis is strongly recommended. This is especially true for those at increased risk for varicose veins.
Reference!A varicose vein massage can help the situation and make the situation worse. You can only entrust your feet to an experienced masseuse who is an expert in your field.
Types of massage for varicose veins
When varicose veins are diagnosed, massage is considered one of the most popular and well-known treatments. In practice, there are several types of massage, each of which aims to stimulate the blood circulation in the legs. We recommend that you contact professionals who are trained in all the complexities of working with the disease.
The massage course allows you to:
- Copes with swelling, cramps and numbness.
- Relieves tension in the legs.
- Increase the tone of the blood vessels.
- Normalizes blood flow.
The most famous and effective types of massage are described below. Thanks to them, it is possible to normalize the blood flow to the lower limbs, reduce pain, and cause discomfort in the legs.
Preserved
With this type of massage, the effect on the blood vessels is realized through vacuum skin irritation. Cupping massage allows you to increase muscle tone, improve muscle flexibility, they begin to contract strongly, as a result of which blood circulation normalizes.
Massage helps to cope with pain, eliminates congestion and normalizes metabolic processes in the tissues. Tiny bleeding spots may appear on the skin - this is normal.
The duration of treatment and the places of application of the banks are prescribed individually by the attending physician.
Such banks can be installed in two ways:
- The skin is softened with Vaseline or cream, and bottles with lighted cotton wool are inserted.
- They use a vacuum device that consists of a can and a balloon that allows a vacuum to be created.
During the procedure, the patient may be in a supine or sitting position. The duration of the session is 10-15 minutes. After removing the cans, the skin is lubricated with a nourishing cream and the patient is covered with a woolen blanket.
Important!This massage is contraindicated in patients with heart disease and high blood pressure.
Self-massage
This type of massage is only allowed in the initial stages of the disease. If the disease has already begun, self-massage is strictly prohibited.
The massage technique is simple. You can do this at home or during work breaks.
The patient is sitting on the couch, one leg on the floor and the other outstretched. The massage begins by stroking the thigh from the knee upwards. You can then start kneading the skin. The surface of the thigh should be massaged and squeezed with fingers until the skin begins to turn red and a pleasant warmth appears. Then you need to shake your leg a few times.
At work, at lunchtime, you can also pay attention to your lower leg and massage it for 5 minutes.
Hydromassage
Hydromassage is the massage of the legs not by jerking, but by smooth movements with the help of water jets of pleasant temperature, which are transported under high pressure.
This type of massage can be done with a special hydromassage (shower) or at home with a regular shower. Contrasting water temperature processes are particularly useful when replacing hot nozzles with cool ones.
The purpose of hydromassage of varicose veins is to achieve an even reddening of the skin of the legs by rubbing the thighs and legs with high-pressure water jets.
Medical
To prevent further progression of the disease and to effectively shorten the recovery period, your doctor may prescribe a manual medical massage. You must be prepared for the procedure before the meeting begins. The following recommendations will help you do this:
- before starting the massage you should let your feet rest: lie down for 10 minutes, it is advisable to place your feet on a hill;
- massage should be done better in the morning after training therapy. This significantly improves the result;
- the patient should be comfortable during treatment (not accompanied by discomfort / pain);
- if there are contraindications, the meeting should be interrupted.
The method of massage is chosen by the doctor, taking into account a few factors: the degree of venous damage, the location of the varicose veins, and only after the patient has been diagnosed.
The following techniques can be used for medical massage:
- continuous caressing of the skin of the cover as well as flat nature;
- trembling legs and rubbing muscles;
- mild tingling.
During the session, the patient is in a supine position with the legs bent at the knees. You can also lie on your stomach with your legs outstretched. In areas where there are problems, strong tingling and palpation of the skin is not allowed.
Anti-cellulite
If massage is seen as one method of fighting cellulite, it is difficult to single out a single technique. For cell workers, anti-cellulite massage courses are also taught by honey, vacuum massage, percussion instruments, and lymphatic drainage techniques.
Anti-varicose cellulite massage with force, pressure or blows is strictly prohibited. Doctors may allow lymphatic drainage if performed during complex treatment.
Lymphatic massage directly affects the affected area. Thanks to the procedure, it can normalize blood circulation, stimulate blood and lymph microcirculation.
Reference!The lymphatic drainage procedure for varicose veins should be performed under the strict supervision of a physician: only he or she can correctly assess what load is required in each case.
A varicose honey massage is not recommended as it sometimes causes additional pain.
Guasha
Very often, in the fight against pathology, they resort to the best practices of Tibetan medicine. An example of this is the "Guasha" procedure, which consists of massaging with the help of a special plate. This plate is made of buffalo horns or special stones, pre-soaked with a mixture of essential oils and certain Tibetan herbs.
Reference!"Guasha" literally means "scraping" on a patient's body. During the session, the body relaxes, the pain from varicose veins is reduced, and toxins can be effectively removed from the skin.
In order to achieve the maximum effect of the procedure, certain rules must be followed (for example, do not swim for 1-3 days). After the session, traces remain on the skin, similar to a cupping massage.
LPG
LPG therapy with a device can be used to prevent the development of varicose veins. Thanks to its use, you can achieve the following:
- Reducing the load on the veins.
- Improving tissue elasticity.
- Normalization of blood flow.
LPG massage has contraindications to varicose veins: this procedure cannot be prescribed in severe stages of the disease. Only the initial and second stages allow this method of treatment.
Contraindications to varicose massage
Massage with this pathology is not always acceptable. There are a number of contraindications for which the appointment of meetings is unacceptable. The following are the reasons for postponing a massage therapist's visit:
- thrombophlebitis / thrombosis of the vessels of the legs;
- ARVI;
- increased body temperature;
- inflammatory processes;
- infectious diseases.
You should clearly follow your doctor’s recommendations and indications for using a certain type of massage.
In case of the first signs of the disease, or if there is an increased risk of developing a varicose vein, it is recommended to perform a massage for prevention. Spot treatment allows the initial stage to cope completely with the disease and prevents the fact that varicose veins only need to be treated with surgery.