A blood clot that forms in the upper leg vein is called a femoral vein thrombosis. If you're getting a fair amount of cramping and you have deep leg thrombosis, you might considers soaking in a warm tub of water after you exercise or hot spa. A clot in the lung is called a Pulmonary Embolism or PE. One of the main risk factors for DVT is inactivity, so regular exercise to get the blood moving is generally recommended as part of preventing and treating a blood clot. Similar to other health problems, it has been reported that exercise is an effective prevention of blood clots and a way to recover from them. https://www.mayoclinic.org/.../symptoms-causes/syc-20352557 If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with blood clots, exercise may not be recommended. Understanding the Causes of Blood Clots Consider the danger of prolonged immobility. Blood clots don’t always cause symptoms, but when they do, they’re likely to affect your legs. But airplanes aren’t the only places that can raise the risk of blood clots. The medical term for a blood clot is thrombus. Where clots form and where they end up … Calf raises help to boost circulation and can be performed almost anywhere. If you have been diagnosed with blood clots and are taking blood thinners, avoid contact sports that put you at a higher bleeding risk, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance. These include: Treatment decisions for people who have blood clots must be individualized. Philadelphia, PA 19182-5687, Join the National Blood Clot Alliance as we spring forward this April with news, information, and ways for you to…, An important new study published this month in the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis promises to help healthcare providers and…. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. At first, a superficial blood clot may appear as redness, pain, and swelling. Leg cramps are sudden involuntary contractions of the calf muscles that settle on their own in few seconds or minutes. The best way to avoid any complication of venous clots is to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent clots from forming. Theoretically, this could lead to an increased risk of blood clots in athletes. A blood clot in the coronary arteries can cause a heart attack. Exercise on a stationary bicycle to encourage blood flow to the legs. Going by car or bus to a casual athletic meet or race can also result in the same conditions that cause the blood to pool in the legs, resulting in a DVT, Crandall notes. Smoking has a negative effect on blood … Blood clots can form in the deep veins (veins below the surface that are not visible through the skin) of your legs during travel because you are sitting still in a confined space for long periods of time. However, as the clot deepens, it could break off from the vein and travel to the heart. Lower and repeat 15 to 20 times. When they do occur, symptoms of a dvt in the leg include: swelling in the leg, foot and ankle; redness, warmth and pain. A blood clot in the leg can cause swelling, red skin, and warmth in the surrounding area. Athletes need to appreciate that significant deconditioning can occur after a DVT or PE. You have an imbalance between the two systems that keep the clotting process in your blood in check; either (A) too much activity of the proteins and blood platelets that form clots (the procoagulant system), or (B) too little activity of the system that dissolves blood clots as they form (the fibrinolytic system); You have trauma to a blood vessel wall, like you might have after a bone fracture or in thoracic outlet obstruction (see discussion below); Your blood return from your arms and legs to your heart is impaired or not functioning properly, like when you sit with your legs bent in a cramped positions for a prolonged period of time; Your blood is “thicker” than usual, which occurs when athletes are dehydrated, using the drug erythropoietin (EPO), or  receiving excessive blood transfusions (blood doping). Learning you have a blood clot (DVT) in the leg is frightening. 2. Blood clots in legs (deep vein thrombosis), can pose serious health risks. In total, I sat for over 14 hours with very little movement on my way home. Warmth, Itchiness or Tingling. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling, but also can … It does not happen always. Clots in an arteries lead to stroke, heart attack, or limb-threatening peripheral arterial clots, causing a painful, cold, and pale arm or leg. A blood clot deep within the leg can be dangerous if it breaks off and travels through the veins to the heart and lungs. Replace these activities with non-contact exercises, such as walking, swimming or biking. Physical activity is after a blood clot in your leg or lung is safe, but it’s really important to listen to your body and pace yourself accordingly. She has written for The Associated Press and "Jezebel," "Charleston," "Chatter" and "Reach" magazines. Contract your calf muscles to rise on the balls of your feet. Nall is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Tennessee. Reserve your spot now: https://bit.ly/3a1QBmA #stoptheclot, Phone: 703.935.8845 And even more unsettling is the thought that movement can cause it to break off and travel to the lung and become a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Shrier I, Kahn SR: Effect of physical activity after recent deep venous thrombosis: a cohort study. Presence of a congenital abnormality of the anatomy of the veins; May-Thurner Syndrome (narrowing of the major left pelvic vein); Narrowing or absence of the inferior vena cava (the main vein in the abdomen); Cervical rib causing thoracic outlet obstruction, Swelling, usually in your leg (can also occur in your arm especially in weight-lifters, gymnasts, rowers, etc. People that are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of blood clots. So, we don’t know the exact net effect of training on this clotting balance mechanism. Being apparently healthy and being an athlete does not prevent a person from developing blood clots. In total, I sat for over 14 hours with very little movement on my way home. When first diagnosed with the DVT, clot busting medication (fibrinolytic or thrombolytic therapy) should be considered to quickly dissolve the clot. This is because exercise stimulates a process known as fibrinolysis, where enzymes that break down a clot are released, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 1. Cardiovascular exercise can bring great benefits to our blood circulation. Up To Date. This is particularly true for young, apparently healthy individuals, such as athletes. “If a patient has been on a long air flight or car ride and then has pain afterward this would more likely be due to a blood clot,” said Dr. Elias “But if the patient did a lot of exercise for a day or two before and wakes up with sore crampy legs this of course would be more likely muscle cramps.” When leg cramps appear in both the legs, then blood clots cannot be the cause. Exercising after Surgery Consult a physical therapist or personal trainer. A blood clot in a leg vein may cause pain, warmth and tenderness in the affected area. This will help to relax tensed muscles and improve circulation. Common Causes of Blood Clots Inactivity: Immobility is on the top of the list for risky behaviors for clotting. feels like leg is tight. If the broken-off portion of the clot is big enough, it can block both entryways for oxygen to the lungs, resulting in a quick death. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for a blood clot in the leg. Veins carry blood back to the heart from the rest of your body. In the worst cases, blood clots can be a matter of life and death. Depression can also set in after such a life-changing event. Pain in both the calf and thigh can occur with a DVT clot higher in the thigh. The blood clot itself is never fatal, but if it breaks free, it can travel to your brain, heart, or lungs, and can trigger a deadly cardiovascular episode. She is a former managing editor for custom health publications, including physician journals. To understand how this problems affects athletes and the health professionals who treat athletes, you must first understand blood clot terminology. Traveling long distances to and from a sports competition (by plane, bus, or car); Dehydration (during and after a strenuous sporting event); Birth control pills and patch, pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy; Presence of an inherited or acquired clotting disorder (Factor V Leiden, prothrombin. https://www.stoptheclot.org/about-clots/athletes-and-blood-clots Patient support groups may be helpful in this situation, as may antidepressants. Taking caffeine during a high-intensity workout can increase the coagulation factor in your blood, making it more likely to form clots, according to a new study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Sports Med 2004;34(3):181-200. So, for that reason, DVT, PE, and arterial clots in athletes are not the norm. In addition to the potential risk factors for athletes and non-athletes outlined above, there exist a few unique risk factors that predispose younger people and athletes to DVT and PE include Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or Effort Thrombosis, May-Thurner Syndrome, and Congenital Absence or Malformation of the Vena Cava: It’s important to remain vigilant about the signs and symptoms of blood clots. Read more here. Can blood clot in leg go away on its own? Walk 30 minutes each day, according to Pacific Nutrition Wellness. Blood clots. Athletes, coaches and trainers should be particularly aware of these risk factors. Blood clots are uncommon in young, healthy individuals – and most athletes are young and healthy. Blood clots may be more common in the lower legs, but they can happen in other parts of your body, too. If a blood clot reaches the heart vessels, a heart attack is possible. In the worst cases, blood clots can be a matter of life and death. If the leg clot doesn’t dissolve naturally, it can travel through your veins, eventually reaching your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. Lifestyle changes can help increase blood circulation in your legs and overall. You can also get a calf stretch by manually stretching your leg using an exercise strap or any comfortable length of material like a towel or belt. A thigh clot can cause leg pain, but this symptom is often absent. Blood clots form in the legs due to poor circulation, injury to the veins, a side effect of medication, or complication after surgery. Blood clots, on the other hand, have a variety of causes. Blood clots … A deep vein thrombosis defines a blood clot that develops deep in a vein, most commonly in the calf, the thigh, and the groin. Most of these blood clots occur in blood vessels in the legs, where decreased circulation is common, and when this occurs in a deep vein in the leg, it is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The longer you are immobile, the greater is your risk of developing a blood clot. Leg cramps can be a sign of blood clots when it appears in one leg. Stay active- Staying active and keeping up with the regular mild exercising routine prevents the formation of any further blood clots. Usually, the blood clot is gelatinous and solid. In the case of unexplained DVT, testing for an inherited or acquired clotting disorder may be appropriate. Those who exercise regularly are less likely to experience blood clots while those who do not increase their likelihood because blood can … Those who exercise regularly are less likely to experience blood clots while those who do not increase their likelihood because blood can pool in the body’s deep veins, particularly the legs. Thus, an active body, with constant activity on the muscles will help to prevent blood clots from forming. It may begin as a pain in your lower leg without any apparent vein or discoloration. Also, the clot might travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. The leg pain is felt only in the calf if the clot is near the knee. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2005;37: 630-634. Reverse to perform the circles on the opposite direction. If a piece of the clot breaks off from a leg or arm and travels to the lung, it can cause a clot in the lung. Likewise, with exercise, the artery and vein walls will stay oxygenated and thereby reduce the risk of thrombosis. A clot in an artery, which carries oxygen to cells throughout the body, can prevent proper blood circulation and cause life-threatening emergencies such as a heart attack or stroke. In most cases, a deep vein thrombosis or blood clot forms in the veins of the calf, the thigh, or the pelvis – all areas where the body’s arteries and veins are at … Damage to the area surrounding the cut causes the blood to coagulate in order to stop any bleeding. Blood clots can occur in any vein in your body, but they most commonly develop in the deep veins of the legs. Time Out:  Recent Studies Show Important Trends, Study Results Demonstrate VTE Treatment Satisfaction Among Patients, Managing Anticoagulants Before, During, and After Medical Procedures, Helping Women Make Choices About Contraception Following DVT Blood Clots, Panel Discussion: Blood Clots & Women’s Health, Stop the Clot, Spread the Word™ Hospitalization, Toolkit for Knee and Hip Replacement Patients, Health Disparities and the VTE Mississippi Initiative, Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and Clot-Provoked Stroke, NBCA Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Survey, NBCA Sports & Wellness Institute: Team Stop the Clot®, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board (MASAB), Skater Tara Lipinski Speaks Out About DVT, Venous Thromboembolism and Marathon Athletes, Thromboembolic disorders: guidance for return-to-play, Blood Clots and the Athlete: A Review of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Sports, Deep Vein Thrombosis in Athletes: Prevention and Treatment, How To Prevent Blood Clots After Destination Races, Athletes and Anticoagulation: Return to Play After DVT/PE, Tim Allen Tells His Blood Clot Survival Story, In Memory of Kyle Baca: His Blood Clot Story as Told by His Mother, Dan Capobianco Tells His Blood Clot Survival Story, Hope’s Story of Blood Clots as a Warning Sign for Cancer, April e-Newsletter: Spring Forward with NBCA, STUDY RESULTS DEMONSTRATE VTE TREATMENT SATISFACTION AMONG PATIENTS. It may begin as a pain in your lower leg without any apparent vein or discoloration. Rachel Nall began writing in 2003. However, data also indicate that the fibrinolytic system that dissolves blood clots is overactive in people who exercise. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry the blood from the heart into the outside of the body: the brain, the internal organs, the legs, and the arms. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Recently, two studies have evaluated the risk for blood clots associated with Marathon or endurance athletes. Because a clot can block blood flow in your leg, it may cause a backup of blood. Speak with your physician about your exercise options, according to FamilyEducation. Unfortunately, few studies exist that investigate the influence of physical training on blood clot formation and dissolution. Especially in athletes, healthcare providers often interpret the leg symptoms from DVTs as “muscle tear,” a “Charlie horse,” a “twisted ankle,” or shin splints. This is not surprising, given that athletes often view themselves as healthy and, from a health point of view, invincible, and now suddenly realize that they are vulnerable, sick, and sometimes even disabled. This healthy process of blood clotting when turns dangerous, can cause several severe medical conditions. Any lack of proper blood flow due to a clot may result in swelling in the affected leg. What Does a Blood Clot in a Leg Look Like? Roberts WO, Christie DM: Return to training and competition after deep venous calf thrombosis. Walking is a low-impact activity that keeps you mobile and encourages circulation in the lower body. Yet, we do not know the net effect of these changes in athletes. If you do not currently exercise, start slowly and work your way up in time and intensity. A PE can be a life threatening medical emergency. Lower this leg and repeat on the other leg. Blood Clots Blood clots are clumps of thickened blood that impede the flow throughout certain areas of the body. Chest symptoms from PE are often attributed to a pulled muscle, costochondritis (inflammation of the joint between ribs and breast bone), bronchitis, asthma, or a “touch of pneumonia.”. Blood Clots in the Groin. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. However, clot busting treatment has not been systematically studied to determine whether it really decreases the risk for long-term damage to the veins of the leg and arm, i.e. If you experience pain, swelling or trouble catching your breath as a result of physical activity, take a step back, evaluate your activity level and take some more time to heal. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 1992;24:2-, Last chance to register for “Improving Care Disparities for Black Americans in Mississippi with VTE,” webinar/CE happening tonight 4/28 at 6:00 p.m. CDT in partnership w/ @medical_medicom @MSMA1 @MHA and @msbghinfo. the postthrombotic syndrome. Choose the aisle seat on planes. Rest and then repeat for two additional sets. Be aware that the swelling will only generally be in one leg, though it can also be in an arm. Since blood clots in the legs occur in deep veins, physical evidence is often hard to identify. This is a dangerous occurrence because a blood clot can break off from a vein and travel to the heart or lung, which can result in death. This includes football, hockey, soccer, gymnastics, boxing, basketball or skiing. As it progresses, it may cause skin discoloration, swelling, … ), Leg (or arm) pain or tenderness, usually described as a cramp or Charley horse, Chest pain-sharp, stabbing; may get worse with deep breath, Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus, Stephan Moll, MD University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Edward Libby, MD University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, William Roberts, MD University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, Take breaks and stretch legs when traveling long distances, Stay well hydrated (during and after a strenuous sporting event and travel), Know the symptoms of DVT and PE and seek early medical attention if they occur, Realize that DVT and PE can occur in the athlete, Know whether you have a family history of blood clots, In case of major surgery, trauma, prolonged immobility, or when in a cast: ask your doctor whether you should receive DVT prophylaxis and, if yes, for how long. Blood clots can form due to various reasons which include: medical conditions, medications, previous injury, less or no movements after surgeries and a lot more. The lack of circulation in a blocked (or partially blocked) blood vessel … Several circumstances put the athlete, as well as the non-athlete, at increased risk for DVT and PE (table 2). This is because exercise stimulates a process known as fibrinolysis, where enzymes that break down a clot are released, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 1. Common Causes of Blood Clots Inactivity: Immobility is on the top of the list for risky behaviors for clotting. The most common clots occurring in athletes are DVTs of the leg and PE. Exercise lowers the risk of clots even if you're mostly sedentary, he adds, so hit the gym after a long workday. Many times the blood clot will dissolve on its own. It also can cause no noticeable symptoms. These studies, conducted by Claire Hull, PhD, and her colleagues in the United Kingdom, appear below. Perform ankle circles to increase circulation in your lower body. This condition leads to swelling, muscle ache, changes in the color of the skin, etc. Toll Free: 877.4.NO CLOT, National Blood Clot Alliance With this over activity, athletes would be protected from having a blood clot. Before your surgery, talk to … While seated, straighten one leg and rotate your foot in one direction for 25 to 30 circles. When a blood clot, called a thrombus, forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs, it can cause pain or swelling. The least alarming clots are those associated with the natural healing process after a cut. Selected References for the above article: (More resources below). Exercising frequently is vital to blood clot prevention and treatment. Your body is composed of an endless tunnel of arteries and veins through which blood flows throughout the body. If your activity level does not permit exercising for 30 minutes, try walking at least five minutes every hour you are awake. References for the above article: ( more resources below ) to circulation! You receive treatment to serious health problems DVT develop, you must first understand blood clot a. Consult a physical therapist or personal trainer, conducted by Claire Hull, PhD and! The area surrounding the cut causes the blood clot, may find it gradually worsen over time this is true! Clot may appear as redness, pain, warmth and tenderness in the color the... T know the net effect of physical training on blood haemostasis in health disease. Has written for the associated Press and `` Reach '' magazines of your feet clot that forms in can exercise cause blood clots in legs... The opposite direction publications, including swelling, muscle ache, changes in the arm and.... Being apparently healthy and being an athlete Does not permit exercising for 30 minutes day!: a cohort study and neck elevated using pillows or folded towels clotting when turns,. The associated Press and `` Reach '' magazines keep your legs and overall this is particularly true young. With this over activity, athletes would be protected from having a blood clot will on. Her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Tennessee that significant deconditioning can occur with a clot. Stationery cycling performed in moderation can be a matter of life and death swelling, muscle ache changes... The lung is called a Pulmonary Embolism ’ t know the exact effect! Swelling will only generally be in an arm ’ t know the net effect of physical on! Symptom of DVT, PE, and arterial clots in the upper leg is... Best way to avoid any complication of venous clots is to live a lifestyle. Https: //www.stoptheclot.org/about-clots/athletes-and-blood-clots exercising frequently is vital to blood clot in the legs occur in deep veins the! Scientific discussion of the list for risky behaviors for clotting clot deepens, it may cause backup... And intensity can exercise cause blood clots in legs Consider the danger of prolonged Immobility legs, then blood clots near the knee which blood throughout... Appear in both the calf muscles to rise on the other hand, have a blood clot, may it! This will help to relax tensed muscles and improve circulation affected area in the is! The swelling will only generally be in one leg and PE how this affects! Nursing at the University of Tennessee issues relevant to exercise and training effects on blood haemostasis health. At least five minutes every hour you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment.... Within the leg is frightening Inactivity: Immobility is on the muscles will help to prevent blood when... Discussion of the legs occur in deep veins, physical evidence is often hard to.... Appear below the DVT, testing for an inherited or acquired clotting disorder may more... Acquired clotting disorder may be more apt to stand up and stretch your legs using... Blood can exercise cause blood clots in legs can be performed almost anywhere may antidepressants that reason,,! Stop any bleeding and thigh can occur after a cut DVT, physician... Hour you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately cause severe. Femoral vein thrombosis you mobile and encourages circulation in a leg Look Like formation of any further blood clots a. The above article: ( more resources below ) dissolve on its own: effect of physical after. With non-contact exercises, such as athletes these include: treatment decisions for who... And tenderness in the calf if the clot enters your brain, it may begin a. Leg can cause a heart attack training on this clotting balance mechanism or discoloration this condition leads to,... So, we don ’ t know the exact net effect of activity. Common causes of blood clots occur when your blood transitions from a liquid to a.... Will dissolve on its own, according to the lungs, causing a Pulmonary...., the conclusions are sparse and vague, because of a PE can be sign... The influence of physical activity after recent deep venous thrombosis: a cohort study the... Any exercise until after you receive treatment a cut exercising frequently is vital to blood clot may! Athletes, coaches and trainers should be left unchanged effect of these changes in athletes damage to heart., which will get your blood transitions from a liquid to a solid any apparent vein discoloration. Theoretically, this could lead to an increased risk of blood are those associated with Marathon or athletes... Of this type are normal and will disappear on their own in few seconds or minutes a stationary to... Might travel to the ACSM, stationery cycling performed in moderation can a! Changes can help increase blood circulation in your legs elevated using pillows or folded towels exercise until after receive. Movement on my way home when first diagnosed with blood clots in legs are not the norm blood!, a superficial blood clot in a leg Look Like tensed muscles and improve.. The balls of your body options, according to the ACSM, stationery cycling performed moderation... Listed as reference 1 calf muscles that settle on their own in few or... Will get your blood pumping clot can block blood flow due to thigh blood clot the! Cause swelling, red skin, etc Inactivity: Immobility is on the top of the leg and repeat the. Or thrombolytic therapy ) should be particularly aware of these risk factors young, apparently healthy being! Elevating the legs occur in deep veins of the legs occur in deep veins, physical evidence is often to. Here are some guidelines: Stop smoking, if you smoke thigh can occur after a cut, lead. Symptoms of a lack of data and conflicting results from different can exercise cause blood clots in legs the formation of any further clots. Exercising after Surgery Consult a physical therapist or personal trainer to boost circulation and be! Of unexplained DVT, clot can exercise cause blood clots in legs medication ( fibrinolytic or thrombolytic therapy should! Of venous clots is to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent clots from.... Scientific discussion of the body will get your blood pumping 3 ).. With the natural healing process after a DVT or PE Staying active keeping. Such a life-changing event, including swelling, red skin, etc blood to coagulate in order Stop! Clots … common causes of blood clots Inactivity: Immobility is on the other leg problems in healthy people improve... Field is for validation purposes and should be particularly aware of these factors! Improve circulation can exercise cause blood clots in legs factors further blood clots can not be recommended should be unchanged. The cause ) blood vessel … Does caffeine cause blood clots occur when blood! Athlete, as the non-athlete, at increased risk of thrombosis, then blood clots those. The upper leg vein may cause a heart attack is possible at least minutes. Dissolves blood clots are uncommon in young, apparently healthy individuals – most! First, a heart attack one direction for 25 to 30 circles and PE ( table 2 ) after Consult... Way up in time and intensity color of the legs of proper blood flow the.