Does massage help varicose veins?

Massage therapy has a whole host of benefits when it comes to easing the symptoms of a wide range of conditions. It helps to reduce stress, reduce pain and muscle tension, improve circulation, optimise immune function and even lower your heart rate and blood pressure. But does massage help varicose veins? When done correctly, it absolutely can.

In this article, we explore:

  • The benefits and limitations of massage for varicose veins;
  • How to correctly massage someone with varicose veins; and
  • How to treat varicose veins.

The benefits of massage for varicose veins

When the correct techniques are used, massage is perfect for helping to increase circulation by moving the blood through the veins and improving tissue nutrition. A therapy session that incorporates both circulatory and lymphatic drainage techniques will help to reduce swelling and congestion within the veins and relieve aches and pains associated with this condition.

The limitations of massage for varicose veins

Although massage can provide relief from aches and pains, it isn’t a miracle cure for varicose veins. In fact, it can only provide temporary symptomatic relief and it will not make the veins any less visible, get rid of them or prevent new varicose veins from forming.

If you are looking for effective long-term relief from your varicose veins you will need the help of a specialist venous consultant surgeon (like the ones we have in the Premier Veins team). He or she will be able to advise you on the best procedure options available, assess your leg veins and treat them using the most suitable one for your diagnosis. In most cases, treatment is performed under local anaesthetic as a walk-in-walk-out procedure with fast recovery times.

How to massage someone with varicose veins

If you have varicose veins, you should always use a registered massage therapist who is qualified to perform vascular massage therapy. This is the most suitable type of massage for varicose veins; however, it’s not safe for all patients with venous conditions, so consult your GP before booking a massage session.

What is vascular massage therapy?

Vascular massage therapy is a type of massage used to help improve blood circulation, meaning oxygen and nutrients can be delivered to the cells throughout the body and waste products removed from the blood. The main technique involves applying short strokes in order to move blood around the circulatory system.

Lymphatic drainage

Vascular massage works well to relieve the symptoms of varicose veins when performed alongside manual lymphatic drainage. This technique moves lymph fluid that contains water, proteins, fats, and white blood cells into lymph vessels located throughout the body.

How to treat varicose veins

There are several walk-in-walk-out, keyhole procedures available for the successful treatment of varicose veins, including:

  • Radiofrequency Ablation – a form of Endothermal Ablation that delivers radiofrequency energy (like laser) to the vein wall through a thin tube which is inserted into the vein above or below the knee. The vein wall then collapses and seals shut, and blood flow is redirected to other healthy veins.
  • Endovenous Laser Treatment – this procedure is similar to Radiofrequency Ablation but uses a laser to produce the heat.
  • Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy – the injection of a chemical foam into the affected vein to damage the lining and cause the vein to close off. Blood flow is then redirected to other healthy veins.

These minimally invasive treatments are available at specialist private clinics and hospitals. Treatment is only available with the NHS if your diagnosis reveals a serious complication associated with your varicose veins.

How can we help?

At Premier Veins, we use a combination of Radiofrequency Ablation and Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy to successfully treat varicose veins. We talk you through each stage of your treatment plan so that you know what procedures we will perform and why they are the most suitable course of action for you.

As part of our service, you will also receive:

To get started, click here to book your FREE no-obligation consultation or call 0333 366 2246 to speak to a member of our expert team today.