That’s a Good Question!

A student in my Tape It Easy class asked about working with a pregnant client who has a “huge varicose vein” (her words, not mine!) on her lower leg – the kind that pregnancy sometimes causes. The question was straightforward: would kinesiology tape help support that leg? But here’s the thing – varicose veins are listed as a contraindication for kinesiology taping in a lot of training materials. So… is it actually contraindicated, or is there more to the story?

Good question! And honestly, I wasn’t entirely clear on the answer myself, so I did what I always do – I dug into the research to find out what’s really going on.

Here’s What I Thought I Knew

Like most massage and taping practitioners, I knew that varicose veins show up on contraindication lists for kinesiology tape. The standard teaching is: varicose veins = don’t tape. Pregnancy = use caution with taping. Pregnancy + varicose veins = definitely proceed carefully.

I also knew the basics – varicose veins are those twisted, bulging veins you see on people’s legs, they’re more common in women, and pregnancy makes them worse. But if I’m being honest? I didn’t really understand why they form or why they’re considered a contraindication for taping. Most therapists assume or have been taught that it’s because… well, veins are involved, and we should be careful around veins. But that’s pretty vague, right?

So before I could answer whether taping is safe or helpful, I needed to actually understand what’s happening in those veins.

So I Dug Deeper

First: What ARE Varicose Veins?

Here’s how veins normally work: Your veins have one-way valves – like little doors that swing open to let blood flow toward your heart, then snap shut to prevent it from flowing backward. When you’re standing or sitting, gravity is constantly trying to pull blood back down into your legs. These valves are the bouncers that say “nope, blood only flows up from here.” Between your calf muscle pump squeezing blood upward and these valves preventing backflow, your body has a pretty elegant system for getting blood back to your heart against gravity.

Now here’s what happens with varicose veins: The veins become enlarged and twisted when those valves fail to work properly, allowing blood to flow backward and pool rather than returning efficiently to the heart. Think of it like a one-way door that’s supposed to swing shut but gets stuck open, gravity takes over and blood struggles to flow upward. The vein stretches, the valves can’t close properly anymore, blood pools, the vein stretches more… you can see how this becomes a problem.

Why Does Pregnancy Cause Them?

Here’s what’s happening:

Hormonal factors: Progesterone levels increase during pregnancy because it helps relax smooth muscle, preventing preterm labor. Well, turns out it doesn’t just to it’s magic on the uterus, it also works on your veins. And get this – the great saphenous veins in the legs (the ones that often become varicose) are particularly sensitive to progesterone, with about 90% having receptors for this hormone. The veins are literally responding to the pregnancy hormones, and not in a good way.

Mechanical factors: Don’t forget, you’ve got this growing baby who’s putting pressure on pelvic veins and blocking the return trip from the legs. Plus blood volume increases by 30-40% during pregnancy, stretching veins to beyond full. Your pregnant client’s veins have more traffic than before, and someone’s (looking at you, Baby) blocking the main thoroughfare.

The good news? Some pregnancy-related varicose veins can return to normal after delivery once hormone levels return to baseline, though this doesn’t happen for all veins.

The Reality Check: Why IS This a Contraindication?

Here’s where it gets interesting. When I looked at the actual contraindication lists for kinesiology tape, I found something surprising.

The standard contraindication lists specifically mention deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – blood clots – as dangerous because the tape increases fluid circulation, and if a clot were to break free and travel to the heart, brain, or lungs, it could be fatal.

So the contraindication isn’t really about varicose veins themselves – it’s about blood clots.

But here’s the thing: that contraindication is based on the THEORY that K-tape increases circulation enough to dislodge a clot. When I dug into the research on whether K-tape actually increases blood flow, I found… well, a mess. Some studies show K-tape modestly increases microvascular blood flow, others show no significant differences in blood flow and some actually found that taping is associated with immediate reductions in cutaneous blood flow. The evidence is all over the place, which suggests if there IS an effect on circulation, it’s probably very small.

So the DVT contraindication seems to be based on:

• What K-tape claims to do (increase circulation)
• Legal liability and covering bases
• Theoretical risk rather than documented cases of harm

That said, better safe than sorry. If there’s ANY concern about blood clots, don’t tape.

But here’s the connection to varicose veins: People with varicose veins do have a higher risk of developing blood clots, including superficial thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis. So the concern seems to be about the potential for clots associated with venous insufficiency, not the varicose veins themselves.

That’s a crucial distinction – the varicose vein itself isn’t the problem. The risk of blood clots is.

But Wait – There’s a Plot Twist

As I was researching why we shouldn’t tape varicose veins, I kept finding studies suggesting that kinesiology tape might actually help with venous insufficiency. Wait, what?

Get this – there’s actually research on women with varicose veins and swelling where K-tape helped reduce their symptoms and pain. It even seemed to help their calf muscles work better. (Though to be fair, they screened out anyone with severe problems, blood clots, wounds, or pregnancy – so we’re talking about the less complicated cases.)

There’s even a specific application method called lymphascial kinesiology taping (LKT) described as a low-risk, cost-effective intervention that can be used at every stage of chronic venous insufficiency, with few contraindications, because it doesn’t compress or block blood flow like compression socks do.  (I’ll be looking into this, so keep an eye out for more information!!)

So kinesiology tape might actually help with venous drainage and reduce symptoms. The research is still mixed and limited, but it’s not all “don’t do it.”

Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?

So back to the original question: Can you tape a pregnant client with a huge varicose vein on her lower leg?

The answer: Yes, with proper caution.

Here’s my clinical reasoning:

The actual contraindications that apply are:

• Deep vein thrombosis is absolutely contraindicated
• Any thrombosis (blood clot) present

The varicose vein itself? That’s not the contraindication. The potential for blood clots is.

Here’s How to Do It Safely

Screen for clots first:

• Ask: Has your doctor mentioned any concerns about blood clots?
• Ask/Feel: Do you have any areas of redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness in your leg (especially in the calf)?
• Ask: Any sudden increase in swelling or pain?
• If ANY of these are present → refer to their OB/midwife before taping

Use lymphatic technique:

• Apply tape with no stretch or very light stretch, starting at the top of the vein and applying towards the feet (start where you want to end up, and you want the fluid motion moving up towards the groin/lymph nodes)
• Avoid applying tape directly over the varicose vein itself
• Think drainage, not compression

Better candidates:

• You’ve screened for blood clots and found no red flags
• Client’s pregnancy is progressing normally
• Client who understands to remove tape immediately if symptoms worsen

Monitor and educate:

• Tape wear time: 1-3 days maximum for pregnant clients
• Client should remove immediately if: increased pain, increased swelling, redness, warmth, or any concerning symptoms
• Follow up after first application to assess response

Better Alternatives?

Honestly, for pregnancy-related varicose veins, there are some approaches that might be more appropriate:

• Elevation: Simple but effective – elevate legs whenever possible
• Movement: Regular walking and ankle pumps (flexing and pointing the feet) – this activates your calf muscles to squeeze blood back up toward the heart
• Positioning: Sleep on the left side to keep pressure off the inferior vena cava, the large vein that carries blood from the legs to the heart

Kinesiology tape might help, but it’s not going to be more effective than these basics.

The Bottom Line

Can you tape? Yes, if you screen properly for blood clots.

The contraindication isn’t really about the varicose veins themselves – it’s about the risk of thrombosis. If your pregnant client shows no signs of blood clots and you use appropriate lymphatic taping technique (not directly over the vein, minimal stretch), taping is probably safe and might provide some symptom relief.

But is it the best intervention? Maybe not. Elevation, movement, and positioning are more evidence-based for pregnancy-related varicose veins. If you do tape, think of it as a supportive measure, not a primary treatment.

The key is: Don’t let “varicose veins” as a blanket contraindication stop you from helping a client who might benefit. Instead, understand why it’s on the list (thrombosis risk) and screen appropriately.

Here’s What I’m Still Learning

I’d love to see more research specifically on kinesiology taping for pregnancy-related varicose veins. The existing studies excluded pregnant women, so we’re extrapolating from non-pregnant populations. There’s also limited research on the optimal taping techniques and wear times for this population.

I’m also curious about whether the lymphatic taping approach works better than traditional muscle support taping for venous issues. The mechanism would suggest it should, but I’d like to see head-to-head comparisons.

Have you worked with pregnant clients with varicose veins? What’s been your experience? I’d love to hear what’s worked (or hasn’t worked) in your practice.

Got questions about taping techniques for your clients? Submit them through my contact page – they might become the next blog post!

Want to learn more evidence-based taping techniques? Check out my Tape It Easy course where we dig into the real science (and the real limitations) of kinesiology taping.

Here Are the Sources We Used

If you’re a research nerd like me and want to dig deeper into the science behind varicose veins, pregnancy, and kinesiology taping, here are the key sources that informed this post:

Understanding Varicose Veins & Venous Insufficiency:

• NCBI Bookshelf: Pathophysiology and Principles of Management of Varicose Veins – Excellent overview of how valve failure and venous hypertension create varicose veins. Link
• Cleveland Clinic: Chronic Venous Insufficiency – Clear explanation of CVI stages and symptoms. Link
• PMC: Varicose Veins and Lower Extremity Venous Insufficiency – Technical but thorough review of diagnosis and treatment. Link

Pregnancy, Hormones & Varicose Veins:

• PMC: Venous Pathophysiology – Deep dive into why pregnancy increases varicose vein risk, including the progesterone connection. Link
• NCBI Bookshelf: Physiology, Pregnancy – Explains why progesterone relaxes smooth muscle (and why that causes side effects). Link
• Cleveland Clinic: Varicose Veins During Pregnancy – Practical information about pregnancy-related varicose veins. Link
• PMC: Interventions for varicose veins and leg oedema in pregnancy – Cochrane-style review of treatment options during pregnancy. Link

Kinesiology Taping & Varicose Veins:

• PMC: Effects of Kinesio Taping on Venous Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Chronic Venous Insufficiency – The study showing K-tape might actually help with venous symptoms. Link
• Wounds UK: Lymphascial kinesiology taping for peripheral arterial disease and chronic venous insufficiency – Overview of the non-compressive LKT approach. Link

Kinesiology Tape Contraindications:

• THYSOL: Precautions and contraindications for kinesiology tape – Standard contraindication list including thrombosis warnings. Link
• KT Tape: 5 Conditions When You Should Not Use KT Tape – Clear explanation of DVT contraindication. Link

Does K-Tape Actually Increase Blood Flow?

• PLOS One: The immediate effects of kinesiology taping on cutaneous blood flow – Study showing K-tape does NOT increase blood flow (and may decrease it). Link
• PMC: Kinesiology tape modestly increases skin blood flow – Contradictory study showing modest increases. Link
• PMC: Kinesio Taping and the Circulation and Endurance Ratio of the Gastrocnemius Muscle – Study showing no significant effect on blood flow. Link

The Bottom Line on the Research:

The evidence on kinesiology taping is mixed and often contradictory – which tells us the effects are probably modest at best. What we DO know is that proper screening for blood clots is essential, and that the “varicose veins as contraindication” is really about clot risk, not the veins themselves.

As always, use your clinical judgment, screen appropriately, and don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, let me look into that” when the research is unclear. That’s what evidence-based practice actually looks like.