Rehabilitation after blood clots

Every year, somewhere between 6-8,000 people over the age of 20 are affected by blood clots. The incidence has increased in recent years without this being fully understood. Some are attributed to increased weight and an increased incidence of diabetes, but risk factors and situations are still poorly understood among healthcare professionals and researchers. Blood clots are an underestimated public disease. If a case occurs, despite the young age, the follow-up in the healthcare system is very inadequate. This mostly consists of diagnosis, any support stockings and blood-thinning medication required on prescription. People are thus mainly left to themselves, their own resources and how they themselves handle everything that has happened.

Training should be much more interdisciplinary. Knowledge of activity and exercise, diet, sleep, stress and good living habits HAVE something to say about how the rehabilitation will go, for the quality of life and not least for any relapses and new events.

In the course we go through the principles of strength training, mobility and stretching and the importance of this for the best possible functioning of muscles and prevention of muscular shortening as this can negatively affect blood flow. The muscle-vein pump is very important for reducing pain and for ensuring the return flow of blood to the heart, and bone strength is thus an important key in rehabilitation and convalescence. Strength training and training in general is also important for the entire cardiovascular system and for mental health and strength.

We also talk about the importance of a good diet based on raw materials and food that keeps blood sugar stable. Insulin, which is our hormone to reduce blood sugar, promotes inflammation and increases the reabsorption of fluid from the kidneys, which in turn causes an increased blood volume and increased pressure in the blood vessels. An imbalance in the intake of the essential fatty acids omega 6 and omega 3 can lead to an increased occurrence of pro-inflammatory substances in the blood, which in turn can affect blood coagulation and thus the risk of new incidents of blood clots.

Stress increases the production of cortisol, which is the hormone that ensures that we are constantly on alert. This creates a state of “danger on the move” in the body where resources are prioritized for combat and not for rehabilitation and repair. It is therefore important to reduce this alarm readiness if the rehabilitation is to be successful. Furthermore, we will talk about the importance of sleep for recovery. Sleep gives the body rest for cleaning and repair and these are important pieces of the puzzle in the overall approach to training after injury and DVT. In addition, I will talk about the importance of good clothes and shoes to ensure blood flow and reduced discomfort, the importance of breaks, activity and rest to give the body the best conditions for recovery.

The course is intended as an addition to the conventional treatment you may receive.

The course is suitable for those who are in the risk group for developing blood clots, people who have experienced blood clots, as well as healthcare personnel who want more knowledge about blood clots.