Q I'm a hairstylist who stands all day. By the time I get off work, my calves feel tight and my shoes barely fit. Why do my legs swell so much from standing?
A Standing for long periods keeps blood and fluid from moving back up from the legs, so they pool lower down. Without moving your calf muscles often, the pumping action weakens and swelling gets worse. If it swells only in the evening and goes down by morning, it's usually functional.
Detailed Answer
Blood in the leg veins is pushed back up to the heart by the 'calf muscle pump' — the contraction and relaxation of the calf muscles. Standing in the same position for a long time keeps this pump from working well, so blood and fluid pool in the lower legs, causing swelling in the calves and ankles. If it swells in the evening and goes down after sleep, it's likely functional swelling. But if only one leg swells severely, or pain and warmth appear along with it, a vein problem should be checked.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
Dongjedang sees this kind of leg swelling as fluid and circulation that has moved downward and can't flow back up. By clearing the stagnation and redirecting circulation upward, we help reduce the swelling that recurs every evening, along with the puffiness that builds up in the calves.
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