A Note About Running with Varicose Veins 

Many people wonder whether it is safe to run with varicose veins. This can vary from person to person and the degree of severity of their varicose veins. Running is a far more high impact activity so people do have to measure themselves when running and maybe talk to a physician or vascular health professional before embarking on an intense running regimen. If you do not experience discomfort, however, you generally can continue with running.

There are a couple of things you can do to help your running program if you have varicose veins: 

• Run on more shock-absorbing surfaces. This means avoiding running solely on asphalt or concrete. Look for grass, dirt tracks, athletic tracks. 
• Ensure you have good running shoes. Running long distances with the wrong kind of shoes can be detrimental. 
• Wear compression calf tights or sleeves. These compression sleeves can really help with the flow of blood back to the heart. These compression sleeves also help during long flights for people that work in an office and have to sit down for long periods of time. These sleeves can help with circulation when running and help keep support during the impact. 
• Mind your running style. Landing with your heel can cause shin splints, so make sure you are running with good form. This means that you are landing with your midfoot rather than your heel. It is a way to run more lightly with less impact.