There is a lot of information about varicose veins. Specialized clinics with a narrow profile have started to open in the world, the functioning of which is aimed at combating this pathology. It is not difficult to conclude that if special clinics for the treatment of varicose veins have started to open, it means that the problem has become widespread.
Let's try to understand what is massage for varicose veins and whether it can be used to get rid of this pathology.
Indications
What is the attitude of specialists to massage in the presence of venous pathology? It should be noted that doctors react with restraint and quite cautiously. Not every massage can be used to combat varicose veins. And in some cases, massage is completely contraindicated.
Its use is highly recommended for prevention. This is especially true for those who are at increased risk of varicose veins.
Help!Varicose vein massage can help with the situation and can make it worse. You can trust your feet only to an experienced masseur, a professional in their field.
Types of massage for varicose veins of the legs
If varicose veins are diagnosed, then massage is considered one of the most popular and well-known methods of treatment. In practice, there are several types of massage, each of which is aimed at stimulating blood circulation in the legs. It is advisable to contact specialists trained in all the intricacies of working with this disease.
The massage course allows you to:
- Deal with swelling, cramps and tingling.
- Relieve tension in the legs.
- Increase vascular tone.
- Normalize blood flow.
The most famous and effective types of massage will be described below. Thanks to them it is possible to normalize blood flow in the lower extremities, reduce pain and discomfort in the legs.
Canned
In this type of massage, the effect on the vessels is carried out by irritating the skin with a vacuum. Massage with a cup allows you to increase muscle tone, improve muscle elasticity, they begin to contract vigorously, as a result, blood circulation is normalized.
Massage helps to cope with pain, remove congestion and normalize metabolic processes in tissues. Small hemorrhages may appear on the skin - this is normal.
The duration of treatment, as well as the places where the banks will be applied, are determined by the attending physician individually.
Such banks can be installed in 2 ways:
- The skin is softened by applying Vaseline or cream, jars with lighted cotton wool are placed.
- They resort to the use of a vacuum apparatus, it consists of a box and a balloon, which allows you to create a vacuum.
During the procedure, the patient can be lying down or sitting. The duration of the session is 10-15 minutes. When the boxes are removed, the skin is lubricated with a nourishing cream and the patient is covered with a woolen blanket.
Important!This massage is prohibited for patients diagnosed with heart disease and hypertension.
Self-massage
This type of massage is allowed only in the initial stages of the disease. If the disease has already begun, then self-massage is strictly prohibited.
The massage technique is simple. You can do it at home or during work breaks.
The patient sits on the sofa, with one foot on the floor and the other straight. The massage begins by stroking the thigh up from the knee. Then you can start kneading the skin. The surface of the thigh should be massaged and pressed with the fingers until the skin begins to redden and a pleasant warmth appears. Then you need to shake your legs several times.
During lunch you can also pay attention to the lower leg and massage it for 5 minutes.
Hydromassage
Hydromassage is a massage of the feet not with sharp movements, but with smooth movements with the help of jets of water with a pleasant temperature, which is applied under high pressure.
This type of massage can be performed with a special hydromassage (shower) or at home with a regular shower. Contrasting procedures with contrasting water temperature are especially useful when warm jets are replaced by cool ones.
The purpose of hydromassage for varicose veins is to obtain an even reddening of the skin of the legs by rubbing the thighs and legs with jets of water supplied under high pressure.
Medical
To prevent further development of the disease, as well as to effectively shorten the recovery period, the doctor may prescribe manual medical massage. Before starting the session, you need to prepare for the procedure. To do this, the following recommendations will help you:
- before the massage you should let your feet rest: lie down for 10 minutes, it is recommended to put your feet on a hill;
- it is better to do a massage in the morning, after training therapy. This will significantly improve the result;
- during treatment the patient should feel comfortable (he should not be accompanied by unpleasant / painful sensations);
- if there are contraindications, the session should be canceled.
The method of massage is chosen by the doctor, taking into account some factors: the degree of venous damage, the location of varicose veins and only after the diagnosis of the patient.
The following techniques are applicable to medical massage:
- continuous ironing of the skin, as well as flat nature;
- trembling of the legs and rubbing of the muscles;
- slight tingling
During the session, the patient is lying down, legs bent at the knees. He can also lie on his stomach with his legs outstretched. In the area where there are problems, severe tingling and patting of the skin is not allowed.
Anti-cellulite
When massage is considered a method to combat cellulite, it is difficult to separate any of the techniques. Courses in anti-cellulite massage, honey, vacuum massage, percussion, as well as lymphatic drainage techniques are taught to medical workers.
Anti-cellulite massage for varicose veins with force, pressure or blows is strictly prohibited. Doctors can allow lymphatic drainage if they are done during complex treatment.
Lymphatic massage directly affects the affected area. Thanks to the procedure you can normalize blood circulation, stimulate the microcirculation of blood and lymph.
Help!The procedure for lymphatic drainage in varicose veins should be performed under strict medical supervision: only he can correctly assess what load is needed in each case.
Massage with honey for varicose veins is not recommended, as it sometimes provokes additional pain.
Gouache
Very often in the fight against pathology resort to proven methods of Tibetan medicine. An example of this is the "Guasha" procedure, which consists of a massage using a specialized plate. This plate is made of buffalo horn or special stones, pre-soaked with a mixture of essential oils and some herbs from Tibet.
Help!"Guasha" literally translates as "scraping" on the patient's body. During the session the body relaxes, the pain from the manifestations of varicose veins decreases, toxins are 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 similar to those after a cup massage remain on the skin.
Propane-butane
LPG therapy with a device can be used to prevent the development of varicose veins. Thanks to its use you can achieve:
- Reducing the load on the veins.
- Improving tissue elasticity.
- Normalize blood flow.
LPG massage has contraindications for varicose veins: this procedure can not be prescribed in severe stages of the disease. Only the initial and second stages allow the use of this method of treatment.
Contraindications to massage with varicose veins
Massage with this pathology is not always acceptable. There are a number of contraindications for which the appointment of sessions is unacceptable. Below are the reasons for postponing the visit to the masseur:
- thrombophlebitis / thrombosis of the vessels of the legs;
- ARVI;
- fever;
- inflammatory processes;
- infectious diseases.
You must clearly follow the doctor's recommendations and instructions for the use of a particular type of massage.
At the first signs of the disease or if you have an increased risk of developing varicose veins, it is recommended to undergo massage sessions for prevention. Acupuncture allows in the initial stage to fully cope with the disease and prevent the fact that varicose veins will have to be treated only with surgery.