For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, elderly
For what? functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery
Time and time again, male and female users of KAATSU have seen their varicose veins either go away or be minimized.
While eliminating or reducing their varicose veins was not their original goal, the cosmetic effect of this outcome has been greatly appreciated by many - including women who have just given birth and older retirees of both ages.
To understand why this improvement occurs, it is important to understand how and why varicose veins appear in the first place.
Varicose Vein Causes
Blood flows into your legs through arteries and returns back to the heart in your veins. Veins have valves inside them to stop the blood from flowing the wrong direction. These valves can lose their elasticity, stop working properly or otherwise become weak or damaged.
Weak or damaged valves in your legs can lead to varicose veins. While your heart is strong enough to efficiently pump blood through your torso, it needs help to enable blood to flow to and from your lower body. To return blood to your heart, the veins in your legs must work against gravity.
Muscle contractions in your lower legs act as pumps and the elastic vein walls help blood return to your heart. Tiny valves in your veins open as blood flows toward your heart. The valves then close to stop blood from flowing backward. If these valves are weak or damaged, blood can flow backward and pool in the vein, causing the veins to stretch or twist.
Aging causes the valves in your veins to become weaker and eventually that leads to the valves allowing some blood to flow back into your veins where it collects instead of flowing up to your heart.
Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins. The veins that most commonly affected are veins in your legs because standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins of your lower body.
For many people, varicose veins and spider veins — smaller, thinner, more mild variation of varicose veins that can also be found on your face — are more of a cosmetic worry. For some people, varicose veins causes pain and discomfort and sometimes lead to more serious problems that should be addressed by your personal physician.
So if you have veins in your legs that are dark purple or blue in color, look like they are twisted and bulging, people are often advised to ;
exercise, elevate their legs or wear compression stockings that can help you ease the pain of varicose veins and may prevent them from getting worse.
Recommendations
Medical professionals understand that individuals cannot completely prevent varicose veins, but it is widely know that improving blood circulation and muscle tone can reduce the risk of developing varicose veins and getting additional ones. This self-treatment can include exercise, proper nutrition, avoiding obesity, frequently changing your sitting and standing position if you have a tendency to not move much at work or home.
KAATSU Benefits
This is how KAATSU can useful and effective.
There are two primary outcomes and mechanism: (1) Improved blood flow and (2) Increased vascular elasticity. Both which help the valves in your legs function normally and eliminate or reduce the backed-up blood near these areas.
Improved Blood Flow
Research at the University of Tokyo Hospital showed that regular intermittent modification of venous flow (from your limbs back to your torso) with the KAATSU Air Bands and KAATSU equipment on the legs leads to blood shifting to the lower part of the body while blood flow is temporarily decreased in the parts of the body above your heart. Your brain perceives this minor shift and, as a result, directs your heart to increase blood flow. The increased blood flow improves blood circulation throughout the entire body and the blood in the peripheral arteries flows more smoothly.
Increased Vascular Elasticity
As we age, the natural elasticity of our capillaries, veins and arteries is reduced. When blood vessel walls lose its elasticity, the smooth circulation of blood is reduced. When the venous flow is intermittently modified with KAATSU equipment on your legs, the blood flow is temporarily reduced in your upper body and the blood vessels throughout your body attempts to supply an increased amount of blood.
This is a natural phenomenon and is what the human body and brain have evolved to do.
When the KAATSU Air Bands are released (every 20 seconds in the KAATSU Cycle mode), this mechanical modification (alternately creating constriction and dilation) stimulates the blood vessels and enhances blood vessel elasticity - even if you are sitting down and relaxing. When venous flow is modified, blood must be pushed harder to bring sufficient amount of blood to each cell in your body.
In addition, there are two other natural physical phenomena that occur: (1) vascular endothelial cells generate nitric oxide that helps to restore your natural vascular elasticity, and (2) new blood vessels are formed to efficiently supply a limited amount of blood.
These effects lead to the improved valve function and elimination or significant reduction of varicose veins.
How to Use KAATSU with Varicose Veins
* Always start slowly and gently with your KAATSU equipment.
* Always be well hydrated before and during your KAATSU sessions.
1. There are 3 different ways to improve your varicose veins. All the protocols should be performed with relatively low SKU pressure and not done with vigorous exercises. Slow and gentle movements are best, but people who are de-conditioned due to a sedentary lifestyle or injuries can also simply sit while doing the KAATSU Cycles.
2. The easiest and most convenient exercise is to simply sit and do several (3-6) KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU leg bands on. You can do this anytime you are working in your office, watching TV or relaxing anywhere. The KAATSU Cycle pressure can start conservatively (i.e., a low SKU) and then gradually increase with each subsequent KAATSU Cycle (from KAATSU LOW to KAATSU MEDIUM pressure settings).
3. The next best and more effective exercise is to do the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises with the KAATSU leg bands on while using the KAATSU Cycle mode: (1) Heel Raises done slowly while sitting, (2) Leg Raises while standing, and (3) Non-lock Partial Squats. See videos above for ideas and suggested exercises that can be done in your home or office. You can also do a variety of other exercises [see video below].
4. The best and most optimal exercise is KAATSU Walking. With the KAATSU C3 or next-generation KAATSU B1, you can walk with the KAATSU leg bands on while using the KAATSU Cycle mode. The KAATSU Walking can also be on a treadmill or outside anywhere or indoors in your home or office.
Contraindications
If you have cardiac issues or serious vascular issues, consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.
However, the KAATSU Cycle mode has been used safely and without contraindications with over 7,000 individuals with documented cardiac issues (heart bypass, heart attack) or who have survived strokes.
It is important and strictly recommended to only use the KAATSU Cycle mode with anyone with health concerns. All of the standard KAATSU protocols are essential to follow: use conservative pressure, be well hydrated before and during KAATSU sessions, always start with the KAATSU Cycle mode to help warm-up the body and vascular system, and move slowly and conservatively (i.e., not vigorously).
The standard KAATSU core and lower back exercises with the KAATSU Cycle mode can also be useful for individuals with varicose veins.
Core & Lower Back #1 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Sit straight up in a chair or couch with your hips near the edge.
4. Slowly exhale and slowly lean forward, tightening your abdominal muscles as strongly as possible until your stomach is close to your legs.
5. Hold and then slowly inhale air on your return to a sitting position with good posture.
6. Repeat as you desire - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
7. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #2 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Stand on one foot, balancing only on your other leg for as long as possible.
4. When your balance is lost, rest for 10-20 seconds and repeat two more times.
5. After 3 times, balance on your other foot.
6. This act of balancing will create instability in your core and will help strengthen your stomach and lower back.
7. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #3 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Place a book on your head and walk slowly until the book falls off.
4. Rest 10-20 seconds and repeat the walk again two more times with the book on your head.
5. Walking straight slowly, especially on an uneven surface like a sandy beach, will create instability in your core and will help strengthen your stomach and lower back.
6. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #4 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Stand on one foot while holding a water bottle in each hand.
4. Hold the water bottle in your outstretched arms and stand as long as possible on one leg.
5. When your balance is lost, rest 10-20 seconds and repeat two more times.
6. After 3 times, balance on your other foot.
7. In order to make this exercise more difficult, move your outstretched arms left and right, and up and down in an asymmetric manner while balancing on one foot.
Core & Lower Back #5 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly bring one leg one up to your stomach and hold. Grab your knee with your arms to stretch your back.
4. Continue to lie on your back and slowly pull both your legs up to your stomach and hold. Grab your knees with your arms to stretch your back.
5. Repeat as desired - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
6. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #6 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift your hips off the floor and hold. Bring your hips to the ground and repeat as desired.
Core & Lower Back #7 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift both your feet off the ground and hold. Repeat as desired.
4. Lie on your back, lift both your feet off the ground, and kick your feet slightly off the ground.
5. Repeat as desired - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
6. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Core & Lower Back #8 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU (i.e., with One-finger Tightness).
2. Start with 1 set of KAATSU Cycles on your legs in the LOW pressure setting.
3. Lie on your back and slowly pandiculate (i.e., stretch and stiffen your trunk and limbs, extending your toes, feet, arms and hands as you do upon waking).
4. Repeat as desired - up to a maximum of 6 sets of KAATSU Cycles.
5. If comfortable, you can increase to MEDIUM or HIGH pressure settings after the initial set in the LOW pressure setting.
Copyright © 2014 - 2019 by KAATSU Global
Never knew that KAASTU can do so much to our body and also can easily do vein care.
ReplyDeleteI listened this name "Kaatsu" first time and its beneficial effect in veins. I never know that this process is very helpful to our body and veins. Thanks for sharing this awesome and informative blog with us.
ReplyDeleteMy doc read KAATSU Global Blog/varicose veins & said no evidence-based studies of Kaatsu's impact on varicose veins, in particular, means she won't recommend it. Letting blood pool is at cross purposes with her goal of making blood flow out of the vein. Anything else you suggest I let her know? Thx!
ReplyDeleteBlood never pools - it is always moving. Please provide an email or send an email to info@kaatsu.com and we will send your peer-review published papers on the increase in vascular elasticity.
DeleteI can send your physician peer-reviewed articles published in scientific journals if she would like to read them. Email us at info@kaatsu.com for more information.
DeleteI don't understand--i Don't want my veins to stretch more, that is the whole problem of vericose veins. I want them to shrink! Surgery doesn't help my veins, it made them grow. How does this help?
DeleteThe problem is generally that the valves in your legs are not sufficiently elastic. Because the valves have lost their youthful elasticity, the blood pools and backs up in your veins - this is what you see. So the issue is generally not entirely with the vascular tissue of your veins; it is with the loss of elasticity of the valves. If you have sufficient elasticity in your valves, then the blood will circulate normally and the backed-up unsightly blood that you see will return to normal.
DeleteI also read in studies that it causes "blood pooling"... as long as it is a temporary thing?
ReplyDeleteBlood pooling is an inaccurate term. Blood does not pool (it neither stays still nor stagnates). The venous return is modified due to the very slight compression of the bands every 30 seconds. That means the veins is very slightly compressed by the inflated bands so the blood circulation is temporarily (for 30 seconds) modified or slowed down. But, if you and your doctor are worried about this slight, temporary, incremental modification of the venous return, that is OK. KAATSU may not be for you, although a vast majority (70%) of KAATSU users in the US are women over the age of 55.
ReplyDeleteAs a 68 year old female I had started to use Kaatsu on my arms and legs due to my sedentary job. I just had an ultra sound done on my legs due to blood pressure issues and was diagnosed with “no blood clots, patent vein, but the left deep veins, junction and greater saphenous veins appears incompetent; this means valves in upper leg veins are not functioning well, causing venous stasis in the leg, with swelling and sometimes skin discoloration." Personally I haven’t noticed any skin discoloration and am currently walking a mile per day and wearing support hose. It would seem that continuing the Kaatsu on my legs to improve the venous return would be beneficial but I’m not sure as the degree of damage probably varies with each individual. Are there any published studies that you can reference so I can talk to my doctor about the benefits of Kaatsu?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, please email me at steven.munatones@kaatsu.com to discuss the studies. We can arrange a teleconference with you and your physician, too.
ReplyDelete