Buy the DVT worksheetDVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, can be a very serious and life threatening situation. Many times DVTs happen when someone is very inactive from either a surgery or a long trip where they can’t get up and walk around.

Some signs of a DVT are swelling in the leg or legs, redness in the leg, warm to the touch, and tenderness to touch. So here are some simple exercises you can do to help prevent a DVT.

All these exercises will be performed sitting down because most likely you will be in a plane or car seat doing these. The first one will be an ankle pump. Hold your foot slightly off the ground and pump your foot up and down, pointing and flexing the foot. You only need to do about 10-15 of each exercise, but make sure you are doing both sides. Do these about every 30 minutes to an hour.

Now with both feet flat on the ground, bring your heels up, and then come down and bring your toes up alternating back and forth. Do this about 10-15 times. Next take your knee, and bring it up towards the ceiling and then come back down. Now you’re getting your hip and knee moving. Repeat 10-15 times as well.

The last thing you want to do is cross your leg over the other, and massage the calf muscle. You don’t have to do any specific massage, just make sure you are getting the muscles moving and keeping the circulation flowing.