Standing Strong: How Professionals on Their Feet All Day Keep Their Legs Healthy

Standing Strong: How Professionals on Their Feet All Day Keep Their Legs Healthy

Meet Natalia, a sales consultant with 20 years of experience. Despite her long hours on her feet and a genetic predisposition to varicose veins, Natalia has managed to maintain her leg health. Her secret? A simple foot exercise she does whenever she gets a spare moment. Then there’s Oksana, a former flight attendant who warded off varicose veins despite high heels, pressure changes, and long hours on her feet. And Veronika, a brow artist who considered changing careers due to leg and back pain but found a better solution. These professionals, who spend their workdays on their feet, share their secrets to maintaining leg health.

Veronika, 28, Brow Artist and Instructor: “After a Full-Body Massage, Even My Legs Stopped Swelling”

Veronika started her beauty career as a makeup artist. However, the lack of proper equipment often led to back and leg pain. She switched to brow artistry, which allowed her to maintain a straight posture and reduced the strain on her health. However, the discomfort in her legs persisted. Swimming helped, but it wasn’t enough. At one point, the stress led to burnout, and she considered leaving the profession. That’s when she adjusted her schedule to spend only 4-6 hours a day on her feet, significantly less than before.

Fatigue still creeps in, especially during training periods when she has to stand for more than 10 hours a day. But she found a solution: full-body massages. After a course of massages, she noticed a comprehensive improvement—even her legs stopped swelling. Now, she repeats the course as needed.

Natalia, 44, Sales Consultant: “During Lunch, I Roll a Tennis Ball with My Foot”

Natalia has been a sales consultant for over 20 years. Her work requires her to be on her feet for 8 hours straight. Over the years, she’s grown accustomed to the nuances of her job, but the physical toll has increased. She has a hereditary predisposition to varicose veins and knows that constant fatigue in the legs is an early warning sign. To combat this, she changes her activities frequently—sitting, standing, walking—and rolls a tennis ball with her foot during lunch breaks. This exercise enhances lymph circulation and helps with swelling. At home, she uses a cooling gel, a foot massager, and hot baths to restore a sense of lightness in her legs.

Oksana, 33, Former Flight Attendant: “After Work, 20-30 Minutes with Legs Elevated”

Oksana worked as a flight attendant for about 3 years. While the job is often associated with a glamorous lifestyle, it also comes with health risks. The need to lift and move heavy objects, combined with pressure changes during takeoff and landing, can lead to professional diseases, with varicose veins being the most common.

Aware of the risks, Oksana took preventive measures. After work, she would take a relaxing foot bath, use a cooling gel, and spend 20-30 minutes with her legs elevated to improve lymph drainage and reduce swelling. She also recommends compression wear, such as stockings and tights, for both flight attendants and frequent flyers. Drinking plenty of water during flights helps avoid swelling and improves overall well-being upon arrival.

Love, 32, Hair Stylist: “I Take Vitamins to Strengthen My Veins”

Love works as a hair stylist in a luxury salon. With 13 years in the beauty industry, her workdays last about 12 hours, with 10-11 of those spent on her feet. Fatigue is a common issue, with frequent hand, back, and leg pain. Short breaks to sit, hydrate, or snack help, as does regular exercise, including gym workouts and boxing. She maintains a light, healthy diet and takes vitamins to strengthen her veins and overall health.

Vadim, 44, Photographer: “Variety Helps”

Vadim spends an average of 6-10 hours standing during photoshoots, followed by more time sitting while editing photos. He used to work even longer hours, pushing himself to the limit. The pain was so severe that he sometimes couldn’t sleep. His solution? Taking every opportunity to sit, even if just for a minute each hour. This simple change significantly reduced his fatigue. Variety in his movements—jumping, squatting, lying on the ground—also helps. He finds that hanging on a pull-up bar to “crack” his back and legs is essential. The physical demands of his job, including carrying equipment and active hours, keep his body toned.

Nadezhda, 19, Barista: “Hot Baths and Stretching Exercises Help”

Nadezhda has worked in a small coffee shop for 3 years. Her shifts vary from 6 to 12 hours. She loves her job but admits it’s exhausting. After long shifts, she often feels like collapsing into bed. Short breaks at work to sit or stretch help, but they’re not always possible. To cope with leg and back pain, she takes hot baths and does daily stretching exercises. She believes that maintaining flexibility helps her body handle stress better. She also avoids high heels, opts for soft soles, and uses special insoles for her flat feet.

For more information on varicose veins and their management, you can visit the Mayo Clinic website.