5 Best Strategies to Improve Leg Circulation

There's a good reason why circulation issues are felt more acutely in the lower legs, as blood has to fight both distance and gravity to get back up to the heart.

Unfortunately, millions of Americans have less-than-ideal circulation in their lower legs, which can lead to a wide range of issues, from varicose veins to weakness and leg pain.

As vascular experts, Dr. Ariel Soffer and the team here at Soffer Health Institute understand the incredible value in healthy leg circulation, and we want to review some strategies for achieving just that.

Why the poor leg circulation?

Let’s first review why millions of Americans struggle with poor leg circulation. The primary culprits behind the issue include:

• Chronic venous insufficiency, which affects 25 million American adults
• Diabetes, which affects 38.4 million American adults
• Peripheral artery disease
• Obesity 

This list is by no means complete, but it illustrates that a big percentage of our population has issues with the circulation in their legs.

Encouraging better blood flow in your legs

Now let’s get into some of the strategies that can help boost the circulation in your lower legs, which include:

1. Move more

One of the best steps you can take to improve your leg circulation is just that — steps. When you move, you work the muscles that keep your blood flowing in and out of your legs, including your calf muscles, as well as your heart muscle.

So, we encourage you to move as much as you can. You can start small with a few 5-minute walks each day and build up. And we recommend that you track your steps with a smartphone or fitness watch so that you can monitor your progress and set goals. 

2. Strengthen calf muscles

While your heart does the heavy lifting when it comes to circulating your blood, it needs a little help, especially in your lower legs. This is why the veins in your lower legs rely on strong calf muscles to keep the blood flowing upward.

So, it’s a great idea to add some calf-strengthening exercises to your daily routine, such as the ones covered here.

3. Lose weight

Experts predict that, in just five years, half of adults in the United States will have obesity. And these extra pounds are a fast track to poor leg circulation.

If you’re carrying too much weight, it’s important that you lose some, not just for the circulation in your legs, but for your overall health. 

We offer comprehensive weight loss services, including the new GLP-1 weight loss drugs, to help with this goal.

4. Wear compression socks

Another way to support the circulation in your legs is to wear compression socks that apply gentle pressure to your blood vessels to prevent blood from pooling.

5. Drink plenty of water

Dehydration can make your blood more viscous, which can make it more difficult to circulate. So, if you have leg circulation issues, be sure to take in plenty of fluids each day, including a few glasses of water.

For a more detailed and tailored plan to improve the circulation in your lower legs, we’re happy to help. To get started, please contact one of our offices in Weston or Hollywood, Florida, to set up an appointment.