Patients can improve their venous health by elevating their feet and legs above the level of the heart for a portion of the day, and exercising. Routine exercise can help in two ways: it encourages blood flow, and promotes weight loss, both of which help to control chronic venous insufficiency. Walking is the best excercise for the legs, but when walking is not possible, simple excercises can be beneficial. These include wiggling the toes, flexing the foot back and forth, extending and flexing the leg, and standing flat-footed and rising tot he balls of the feet. Patients should repeat these excercises several times an hour to improve venous return.
