5 Reasons Why Circulation Matters

Fight Swollen Feet by Improving Circulation

Many jobs require people to stand for extended periods of time, such as factory workers, teachers, retail employees, and more. Although standing may seem like a relatively harmless activity, it can actually lead to a number of serious health issues, including swelling in the legs and feet.

When you stand for long periods, gravity causes blood and fluid to pool in your legs and feet.   

When leg muscles are active, they promote circulation through what is referred to as muscle pump.   When muscles move, they compress the veins, pushing blood towards the heart and against the force of gravity.  When muscles don’t move, the veins remain open, and gravity allows the blood to pool in the lowest parts of the body.  This causes swelling, which is known as edema. Edema is not only uncomfortable, but it can also restrict blood flow and cause other health problems.

In addition to edema, standing for long periods can also lead to varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein problems. These veins can cause pain, swelling, and a feeling of heaviness in the legs. They can also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which blood clots form in the legs.

So, what can you do to prevent pain and swelling in your legs and feet?   

The best prevention is to take frequent breaks and move around throughout the day.   

Unfortunately, that’s not always a realistic solution for standing workers in manufacturing, distribution or any industry that requires the workers’ constant presence at a workstation, production line, or work cell.  In those situations, anti-fatigue mats are the best viable solution.

5 Ways Anti-Fatigue Matting Prevents Swelling and Promotes Health

• Promotes oxygen and nutrient delivery: Good circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells and tissues, which is important for overall health and function.
• Supports muscle pump theory: The muscle pump theory states that movement and contractions of the muscles help push blood and lymph through the veins, promoting circulation. Anti-fatigue mats encourage movement and changes in posture, thus promoting the muscle pump.
• Reduces swelling and inflammation: Poor circulation can lead to swelling and inflammation, but good circulation helps reduce these symptoms. Anti-fatigue mats can help improve circulation and reduce swelling and inflammation in the feet and legs.
• Supports recovery from injuries: Good circulation helps with the removal of waste products from the body and supports the healing of injuries. Anti-fatigue mats can help improve circulation and aid in recovery from injuries.
• Enhances overall well-being: Good circulation supports overall health and well-being. Anti-fatigue mats can help improve circulation and contribute to a feeling of overall well-being, energy and comfort.

Standing for long periods, particularly on hard floors, is not only uncomfortable, but overtime can result in a larger health risk.  When standing can’t be avoided, implementing something as simple as anti-fatigue matting can make all the difference!   MATSonline is a proud seller of anti-fatigue matting and flooring manufactured by Wearwell right here in the USA.  MATSonline has the widest offering including the original diamond-plate mat.  With so many solutions to choose from MATSonline team members are here to help!   Taking the first step to standing health is just a click away!