Reasons Why You Should Put Your Feet Up

We often say to ourselves or others, ‘Relax and put your feet up.’ However, have you ever stopped to think why this may be beneficial? In fact, if done correctly, depending on the context and your specific situation, raising your feet above the level of your heart may have various health benefits. Below, we discuss some of the reasons why raising your legs may be beneficial and how rise and recline chairs can help you do this with ease and comfort.

Improving your circulation

Elevating your feet can help improve blood circulation, especially if you've been sitting or standing for an extended period. This is because when standing or sitting, the valves in your veins that help return blood to your heart have to work against gravity. Therefore, by raising your legs above the level of your heart, you can let gravity assist, which may help better blood flow in your veins and legs.

Reducing swelling

Elevating your feet above heart level may also assist in reducing swelling, particularly in your ankles and feet. Swelling often occurs due to inflammation after an injury or care of fluid retention in the body’s tissues (oedema); oedema can worsen with prolonged periods of sitting. In the same way that it may help improve blood flow, raising your feet above your heart level may help drain excess fluid and reduce swelling in your legs and ankles.

Reducing pain

If you have pain in your legs, ankles, and/or feet, elevating your feet may also provide relief by reducing pressure on your lower extremities and promote relaxation. Pressure often builds up in your legs during and following prolonged periods of sitting or standing, as blood tends to pool in the veins of your legs. Therefore, raising your feet can help ease the tenderness of tired feet, and elevating your legs above your heart level may help to lower the pressure further by assisting your blood to flow more effectively.

How to raise your legs safely

This is not as simple as just placing a cushion under your feet. In fact, using a cushion and table or footstool may, in fact, cause more long-term discomfort. Especially in your knee joints or heels - especially if your joints are not protected and supported.

How long and how often you should raise your legs can depend on your condition however, some good tips are:

1. Position your legs so they are above the level of your heart. Oak Tree Mobility’s unique high leg raise is useful here.
2. Ensure your knees are supported; Oak Tree Mobility rise and recline chairs provide good joint support, and the cushioning protects the skin. The support offered by Oak Tree Mobility chairs behind the knee is important, not just for comfort but also to help prevent your knees from hyperextending; hyperextension of the knee joint can sometimes aggravate and cause joint pain and swelling. 
3. Once in a comfortable position, keep your legs elevated for about 15 minutes. Try to do this 3 to 4 times a day.
4. An extra bonus, if you can, is to rotate your feet and ankles whilst your legs are elevated, as well as flex and release your calf muscles. Both exercises can help further promote good circulation.

A rise and recline chair can assist you in safely and comfortably raising your legs by supporting and protecting your hip and knee joints, helping you adjust your position and ensure your back and neck are supported.

Whilst elevating your feet may have some health benefits, it may not be suitable for everyone, and the effectiveness can vary based on individual health conditions. If you have specific health concerns or conditions, it is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

However, if elevating your feet works for you, doing so with the correct support from a rise and recline chair will enable you to relax and feel more comfortable. Some people find that by elevating their feet and reducing discomfort in their feet and legs, they can rest more easily.