Calf muscles = our second heart ♥️

Our calf muscles are often called the body’s second heart as they play an important role in helping move blood from the lower legs back towards the chest. The simple action of contracting the calf muscles squeezes the veins to push blood upwards. This mechanism improves circulation and prevents blood pooling. As the heart can only pump out the blood that’s returned to it, the ‘second heart’ calf muscles are great at helping to propel blood from the legs back up to the heart.

For individuals with venous disease it is important to consider adding exercises targeting the calf muscles. Aging can also result in reduced ankle mobility resulting in reduced efficiency of the calf muscle pump leading to poorer venous return from the lower legs. Regular physical activity including strength training, mobility and stretching is beneficial and for exercises to activate the calf muscles include walking, calf raises, heel drops, dorsiflexing and plantar flexing of the feet.