How Long After Laser Vein Treatment Can I Exercise?
The Short Answer: It Depends (But Not Too Long!)
Most docs will tell you to wait anywhere from a few days to two weeks before hitting the gym hard. But don’t worry, you won’t be couch-bound the whole time!
How long after laser vein treatment can I exercise?
Walking: Your new best friend
Right off the bat, walking is your go-to exercise. In fact, most vein docs actually want you up and moving pretty much right away.
- 10 to 15-minute walks, three times a day, starting the day after your treatment
- Gradually increasing your walking time over the next couple of weeks
Walking helps get your blood flowing and can actually speed up your recovery 1 5.
The two-week rule
For most people, two weeks is the magic number for getting back to their full workout routine 4.
You’ll want to ease back into it though. No jumping straight into a marathon.
Low-impact exercise
After the first day or two, you can usually add in some other low-impact exercises like:
- Swimming
- Yoga (but skip the hot yoga for now)
- Stretching
- Tai Chi
- Light weightlifting
- Elliptical machine 5
High-impact exercise
You’ll want to avoid anything too intense for at least two weeks. This includes:
- Running
- Jumping
- Heavy weightlifting
- Martial arts
- High-intensity cardio 6
Listen to your body (And your doc)
Everyone heals differently, so it’s super important to pay attention to how you’re feeling. If something hurts or doesn’t feel right, ease off 3.
Compression stockings
Your doc will probably tell you to wear compression stockings for a while after your treatment.
Here’s a tip: wear them during your workouts too. They’ll help keep everything in place and can actually make exercising more comfortable 7.
Why all the caution?
I’m sure you’re itching to get back to your routine. But here’s why we’re being careful:
- Your treated veins need time to fully close off and be reabsorbed by your body.
- Too much, too soon could cause the veins to reopen, undoing all that good work 8.
Conclusion
Staying active after laser vein treatment is actually really important. It helps with healing and can prevent blood clots. But the key is to take it easy at first and gradually work your way back up to your normal routine.
When in doubt, check with your vein doc. They know your specific situation and can give you the best advice for getting back in the game safely 9.
