Technological progress has had an enormous impact on our lives, and it's not just about having an internet-enabled phone in our hand and knowing that we can find answers to important questions with it or watching videos of funny cats.
The fact that much of the work in various sectors of the economy is done in a sitting or standing position - sometimes for the whole 8 hours, with a short break in the middle - means that the human body, which by its very nature "likes" to move, begins to fail.
The truth is that both standing and sitting all day can cause, among other things, varicose veins. However, before this happens, several other ailments appear, which herald the arrival of a more severe problem.
Such symptoms include, for example, the heaviness of the legs. Sometimes we quite wrongly blame it on tiredness. Unless we have been exercising intensively, we cannot say that tiredness is to blame.
Rather, it is a systemic issue related to, among other things, blood circulation and sometimes electrolyte disturbances and the nervous system. Therefore, leg weakness is not something we should ignore. It is worth knowing effective ways to combat this ailment, but also how to eliminate its causes.
To understand the reasons why we can feel such ailments, it is necessary to look at how blood and, in general, all body fluids circulate in our bodies. Movement is our friend in this case.
Remaining in one position for a long time - standing or sitting - causes the oxygenated blood transported to the lower limbs to get there, but it has problems returning to the heart. We stand or sit - in this position, gravity does its work.
The lack of activity, which is a series of contractions that set our body in motion, means that the valves pushing blood out in the veins are unable to work as they should. Therefore, symptoms such as heavy calves, pain, and tired legs appear. We feel like doing nothing at all. This is often accompanied by swelling and even numbness.
The same problems can also occur as a result of wearing too tight clothing which restricts the free flow of body fluids. This is especially true of underwear with sewn-on elastic bands and welts.
The cause may also be an improper diet, rich in salt, and, consequently, excess weight.
Extra weight also causes the feeling of heavy legs during pregnancy. It is also related to the change in position of the pelvis, which starts to put pressure on the blood vessels.
Slightly different problems can be leg weakness and calf cramps after waking up. Here, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and dehydration are most frequently cited as the cause.
First of all, it is worth taking care to replenish your fluids. The human body needs a large amount of water for normal functioning. A well-balanced diet, but also mineral water allows replenishing vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and iron.
They are necessary for the proper functioning of, among others, the circulatory system, the nervous system, and the muscular system. Their deficiencies may result, for example, in painful cramps. The feeling of weak legs may also relate to an improper diet, vitamin deficiencies, and electrolyte disturbances.
Sluggish calves caused by standing or sitting are a problem that can be solved by taking frequent, even short breaks.
The idea is to change your body position, stretch, take a walk even around the office and get some oxygen. You can also do simple exercises at your desk. Avoid putting one foot in front of the other, although the temptation is great.
It's also a good idea to go through your wardrobe, especially your underwear. Perhaps some of them can be replaced with non-padded versions?
After work, find time for physical activity. And I don't mean competitive running or some strenuous sports. A visit to the swimming pool and a quiet swim or regular walks with the dog are enough. This will also have a beneficial effect on our general well-being and condition.
One good idea is to use compression therapy, i.e., to wear compression tights or stockings. However, before you buy the first, it would be good to consult your doctor.
The point is to choose the one with the appropriate degree of compression - there are several of them and choosing the wrong one may do you more harm than good.
The advantage of such tights is that they look the same as normal tights. However, they have a slightly different weave which allows the pressure to be gradually distributed over the whole leg.
It is also a good idea to use ointments that reduce swelling of the legs and strengthen blood vessels. In their composition, you will find extracts of horse chestnut and rutin.
Visit our new compression stocking site https://www.venoflex.com.au/
In a Straussian grounded theory study by Shane Sinclair PhD, Associate Professor, Cancer Care Research Professorship, University of Calgary, Canada, of 53 palliative care patients, it was discovered that patients could not only delineate between the aforementioned care constructs, but were also clear on their preference for compassion. Sympathy was understood by patients as a pity-based response to a distressing situation that is characterized by a lack of relational understanding and the self-preservation of the observer. While it shared the attribute of acknowledging a distressing situation, with empathy and compassion, patients were clear that it was unhelpful, unwelcome, and often compounded their distress. While patients identified a number of distinguishing features between empathy and compassion, their relationship to one another was more like ‘close cousins’ in comparison to the ‘distant/estranged’ relationship status that each of these shared with sympathy.
Empathy was understood by study participants as an effective response that acknowledges and attempts to understand an individual’s suffering through emotional resonance. It involves the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes, to not only acknowledge suffering but to feel with the person and attempt to understand them in the process.
Compassion, from the perspective of patients, included many of the attributes of empathy but added additional, distinguishing components of virtues and actions. To be clear, virtues of love, kindness, acceptance, and genuineness were not equated with morality or piety but were simply understood as the good and noble qualities of healthcare providers. In essence, it involves not just the ‘what’ of healthcare providers but the ‘who’ – the personal qualities that they bring to the bedside. As a result, compassion was perceived as extending feeling with to feeling for, while also adding the quintessential feature of action – doing for. Compassionate action ranged from routine care, motivated by virtues versus remuneration or a mere sense of duty, to acts that went beyond the call of duty by going the extra mile or beyond the ‘job description’.
While an individual’s capacity for compassion is as unique as the experiences of patients receiving it, the call to compassion, while being a high bar, is not an endpoint. Rather, compassion is a dynamic care construct that can be cultivated through practice and when it is expressed, according to patients, is the most potent form of care that healthcare providers can express.
As Therapists it can be difficult to find products that work and are easy for a palliative patient and/or carers to utilise. Oedema and leaking in limbs of patients can often cause them great distress. Mobiderm autoift garments are a range of products that have Velcro tabs and have Class 1 compression. When the garment is worn a shear effect is created on the Mobiderm (foam squares move down and across simultaneously). This shear effect mobilises the skin which pulls on the collagen fibres stimulating the opening of the initial lymphatic vessels. It also creates a pressure differential in the interstitial tissues. Mobiderm not only reduces the rate of filtration it also stimulates the lymphatic system. The Mobiderm autofit sock can be used as a replacement for standard daytime compression socks. It can be easily donned and doffed by carers and can also been worn with Soft cotton short stretch bandage cut into a tube to protect extra sensitive skin. To order products or for more information on the use of Mobiderm in the palliative setting including case studies go to the Mobiderm website.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
]]>Exercises have other benefits too.
They can help you to keep a full range of movement and make you feel better.
What you’re able to do will depend on:
Talk to your doctor or lymphoedema specialist before you start any exercise as they can advise you about what you should and shouldn’t do.
Start exercising gently and build up slowly. Walking can be a good way to start if you haven’t done any exercise for a while. You can gradually increase the distance and the pace. Other examples include yoga, Tai chi, pilates, cycling, swimming or water aerobics.
Try to do some exercise every day. Think about how you can build it into your daily routine. You’re much more likely to carry on doing exercise if it becomes a regular part of your day.
Exercising with bandages on such as the Mobiderm Bandaging System further enhances the pumping action of the lymphatic vessels. Even wearing a daytime compression garment such as the Veno Elegance daytime compression sleeve or Venoflex micro compression sock whilst exercising can help create a greater pressure differential in the interstitial tissue, increasing lymph flow.
Deep breathing exercises help the flow of the lymph fluid through the body. It allows lymph to flow into the lymph system in the chest away from the area with lymphoedema.
Photo by Brian Mann on Unsplash
]]>Often I have patients say to me “Compression socks, I think my Grandma wears those, I don’t want to wear them”. Or “Compression socks, I’ve tried them; I’ve got three pairs in my draw at home that I can’t get on”.
Though compression wear is essential for those who have venous or lymphatic disorders, we can all benefit from wearing compression during our day. Today with the use of modern technology in weaving and fabrics we now have more attractive and pleasant to wear socks available, like the Venoflex Micro. A plus for me is that the yarns in these socks are also Ecotek certified, which confirms the human-ecological safety of the product.
For graduated compression to have its true enhancing effects, a specific decreasing amount of compression must be applied from the ankle to the knee and above. Special medical knitting machines are required to do this along with special testing to confirm the compression is just right. These garments are held to different standards than fashion & sport variations. In fact, wearing an extremely tight compression pant or legging that doesn’t have graduated compression can actually have the opposite effect on the leg’s circulation.
Compression socks come in a variety of support levels for different purposes. Some versions offer light support and are actually designed for preventative and general lifestyle applications – think travel, pregnancy, varicose veins, spider veins & more. Venoflex Micro socks offer Class 2 compression (23mmHg-32mmHg) and as a microfiber stocking it adapts itself perfectly to the leg and is particularly pleasant wearing and comfortable with donning and doffing made easy due to the silky soft material. These socks though designed specifically for therapeutic uses, are fashionable and easy to wear giving the needed support for every compression purpose.
Colours and costs are often an issue for patients but I find that an option of black or caramel covers what most people need. Also when you can purchase at a cost of only $49.50 in 6 different sizes (plus 2 different lengths) you can easily select an item for your patient. You can choose closed or open-toe.
It sounds simple – but an easy to wear, fashionable compression sock offers a remedy for and gives results for those with tired legs, heaviness, fatigue, venous and lymphatic disorders. So let’s wear compression, get our patients to wear compression and look good doing it see the full Mobiderm and Compression sock range.
]]>