If your leg, foot, arm, or hand is swollen, elevating it can help reduce swelling and discomfort. The idea is to position the swollen limb above the level of your heart, which can help excess fluid move back toward the rest of the body.
How to do it:
- Lie down or sit in a comfortable position.
- Place 2–3 pillows under the swollen limb so it is comfortably raised.
- For a swollen leg or foot, support the entire leg, rather than putting pressure only behind the knee.
- Try to keep the limb elevated for about 20–30 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Avoid positions that cause numbness, tingling, increased pain, or pressure.
- Gentle movement of the fingers or toes can be helpful if it does not increase pain.
Important: Elevation can help with mild swelling, but it does not treat every cause of swelling. If swelling is sudden, severe, only on one side, painful, red, or warm, or occurs with chest pain or difficulty breathing, seek urgent medical attention rather than relying on elevation alone.