Any movement that improves circulation can help prevent blood clots, including shaking the legs, stretching, flexing the muscles, and raising the feet.
Walking can be a great and simple way to help prevent blood clots. It can be a good idea to begin slowly, walking for a few minutes multiple times a day, and build up to longer walks. Don't forget to warm up and cool down before and after exercising. Slow walking for 5 minutes can suffice.
Exercise your lower leg muscles.
This helps keep the blood moving through your legs. Pump your feet up and down by pulling your toes up toward your knees then pointing them down. Repeat. This is a good exercise to do when you are sitting for long periods of time.
Focused ultrasound, either alone or enhanced by microbubbles and/or thrombolytic agents, can dissolve blood clots. Ultrasound energy causes vibrations that can either break the clot apart directly —via disruption of the fibrin matrix—or make it more susceptible to the effects of thrombolytic agents.
On average, the participants moved their feet 250 times per minute. The researchers then measured the blood flow of the popliteal -- an artery in the lower leg -- and found that the fidgeting leg had a significant increase in blood flow, as expected, while the stationary leg experienced a reduction in blood flow.
Any movement that improves circulation can help prevent blood clots, including shaking the legs, stretching, flexing the muscles, and raising the feet.
Our study confirmed that habitual leg shaking effectively increased energy expenditure by approximately 16.3%, elevated the metabolic equivalent to a nonhealthy level, enhanced carbohydrate oxidation, improved blood oxygen saturation and minute ventilation, while avoiding additional cardiovascular burden.
While many blood clots dissolve with the help of blood thinners, some dangerous clots require fast-acting clot-busting medications called thrombolytics. Because thrombolytics can cause severe bleeding, doctors usually give them only to people with large, severe clots that increase risk of pulmonary embolism.
The sleeves inflate around your legs every 20 to 60 seconds, then deflate. The sensation feels like a leg massage. The inflating and deflating movement of the intermittent pneumatic compression device supports your circulation. Healthy movement of blood in your body prevents blood clots from forming.
Whole-body vibration was shown to positively influence peripheral blood flow.
On long airplane, train, or bus rides, get up and move around when possible. If you can't get up, wiggle your toes, and tighten your calves to keep your blood moving, as pictured below.
Elevating your legs and sleeping on your back are ideal positions to prevent clots. Avoid curling tightly in a fetal position or sleeping with restricted blood flow. Hydration, light movement, and medical tools like compression stockings can support vascular health during sleep.
Increased movement limits the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), when blood clots form in deep veins following surgery or long periods of immobility. Left untreated, DVT can lead to serious complications — such as a pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot travels to and damages your lungs — and could be fatal.
Don't: Sit Too Long
Try not to stay seated for more than 2 hours at a time -- get up and walk around regularly. If you had a DVT in one of your legs, don't cross your legs when you sit down. That position can affect your circulation. Be mindful of this when you're on long flights or driving for a long time.
Raising (elevating) your legs above heart level helps keep blood from pooling. This makes clots less likely to form. Elevating your legs works best if you lie flat on your back.
Using this 1-2 times per day can help with the long term management of swelling disorders. This helps with both vein and lymphatic disorders. Important: A pneumatic compression pump is not a replacement for compression garments, exercise, or manual lymphatic drainage.
Ginger. Ginger is a natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory agent that can help in dissolving blood clots. It contains a compound called gingerol, which helps in preventing platelets from sticking together and forming clots. Ginger can be consumed in various forms, such as in tea or as a supplement.
Eliquis (apixaban) is a prescription blood thinner. The most common side effect is mild bleeding. Nausea and anemia may also be an issue for some people. Serious Eliquis side effects include severe bleeding and dizziness or confusion.
If you visit a vein clinic or hospital for a blood clot and blood thinners are suggested to you, taking aspirin may be an option, instead. It is not for everyone, and will not be enough in all cases, but it does have a similar effect and may work well to reduce the chances of another blood clot in the future.
Up to 80% of people with restless legs syndrome also have periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS). If you have PLMS, your leg will jerk or twitch uncontrollably, usually at night while you're asleep. The movements are brief and repetitive, and usually occur every 10 to 60 seconds.
Uncontrolled leg movements can have a number of causes, from restless leg syndrome to hyperthyroidism to anxiety. Using certain substances such as alcohol or stimulant drugs can also cause leg shaking. If you are worried about your leg shaking or if it interferes with your daily life, contact your healthcare provider.
Advocates say that as little as 15 minutes a day of whole-body vibration three times a week may aid weight loss, burn fat, improve flexibility, enhance blood flow, reduce muscle soreness after exercise, build strength and decrease the stress hormone cortisol.