Regular exercise, such as walking, biking, swimming and other low impact exercise, promotes healthy circulation and can help relieve symptoms of varicose and spiders veins, as well as keep existing vein conditions from worsening. While raising your legs and moving on your feet is beneficial, sitting or standing for long periods of time can worsen conditions. If you must stand, make sure to shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. If you find yourself unable to get up and walk around do ankle flexions while seated to help keep blood in your legs pumping. If you are suffering from varicose or spider veins, it is advisable to wear support stockings during any excercise.

When the legs are active, the muscles in your legs contract and help pump stagnant blood back to the heart, limiting the amount of blood left to pool in the legs. Better circulation can relieve symptoms and improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins.

Exercise is also crucial to keeping your weight down. Excess weight puts added pressure on the valves of your legs.The following are some easy movements you can do ease symptoms and maintain healthy blood flow.

Ankle Flexions: While keeping the heel of your foot down, lift and lower your toes. This exercise mimics the movement of walking for your muscles and should be done throughout the day while seated.

Leg Elevation: Raising your legs a few inches above your heart level lets gravity drain your legs of pooled blood. Place 2-3 inches under your ankles while lying down.