Aching Legs After a Long Day of Standing

After a long day on your feet, legs can start to feel heavy, achy, or even swollen. For many, standing for most parts of the day is just what work requires. Nursing, teaching, hairdressing and many other professions keep people on their feet for hours, which doesn’t help how legs feel by the end of a long shift.  

Gravity plays a role too. Standing for long periods can make it harder for blood to move back up from the legs, which may contribute to that heavy feeling by the end of the day.

Once the day catches up with your legs, H-Varicose Veins Formula may be incorporated into your daily leg care routine.

How Standing for Long Periods Affects Leg Circulation

Standing itself isn't necessarily a problem. The bigger issue is spending long periods standing without much movement. Standing still for long periods can cause blood to collect in the veins of the lower legs, while movement helps the leg muscles push blood back toward the heart.

Gravity can make it harder for blood to move upward from the legs. One-way valves in the veins help direct blood toward the heart, while the leg muscles support this process when you walk or move. When you stand still for long periods, muscle action is reduced which may contribute to heavy feeling legs.

How do we get the blood back up? Movement helps keep blood moving through the legs. Even short periods of walking or changing position can get the leg muscles working.

How This Adds Up Over Time

Some may start to notice that their legs feel:

• Tired
• Sore
• Heavy
• Swollen

Leg heaviness or swelling can become more noticeable after a long day, especially when someone spends many hours standing with little movement. 

What Helps During and After a Long Day

Quitting your job isn’t exactly practical advice, so here's what can help instead. First, let's look at what you actually have in your control for the day. 

• Compression socks are commonly recommended to help support blood flow in the legs. They apply gentle pressure to the lower legs and may be especially helpful for people who spend long periods standing.
• Alternate between sitting and standing if possible.
• If there's a gap, do some calf raises to get your leg muscles moving.
• During breaks, take a short walk to get the leg muscles moving.

What to do after a long day:

As soon as you can, elevate your legs. Sit down, legs up and do this for about 15 minutes. Grab a book, watch TV, do whatever you need to do to help get the pressure off. Guilt free. You’ve earned it. 

An Extra Step for Tired Legs

Okay, not another step in the literal sense. We’ve had enough of those at this point. One extra step you could add to your routine at the end of a long day on your feet is H-Varicose Veins Formula.

H-Varicose Veins Formula is a topical homeopathic product made with a simple ingredient list. It is intended to temporarily reduce the appearance of varicose veins and relieve minor aching and pains associated with this condition. Apply according to the label directions by gently massaging around and above the veins.

When to See a Doctor about Varicose Veins

If you notice that you have varicose veins beginning to appear or any of the following signs, it is best to speak to a medical professional:

• Bleeding from a varicose vein
• Aching, throbbing or swelling
• Sudden swelling, pain, warmth, or redness in one leg
• Open wounds on the lower legs or ankles

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is standing all day harmful to your legs?

Standing all day without any movement is not ideal. It can lead to legs that feel tired, tight, or sore by the end of the day. 

Why do legs feel fine in the morning but heavy in the evening?

Over the course of the day, legs are more likely to feel heavy or swollen by evening. 

Does sitting during breaks help, or is walking necessary? 

Taking a break from prolonged standing may help tired legs feel more comfortable. When sitting, it's best to try to elevate the legs too. However, getting in some form of movement is also helpful. 

Sources

1. Cleveland Clinic. Varicose Veins

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Varicose veins that are painful, bleeding, warm to touch, or accompanied by skin changes or swelling should be assessed by a qualified medical professional.