Why calf muscle is called second heart

Since the blood now is flowing against gravity, sending it towards the heart will take more than a single pump from the heart. For this reason, the body uses the calf muscles to pump blood from your lower legs back to the heart. The best way to improve circulation is to get moving. Every time the calf muscles contract, it helps blood to flow against gravity. Kenneth McLeod: Dr. McLeod, an MIT scholar, is recognized internationally for his work on muscle activity and its effect on skeletal adaptation, as well as the link between muscle activity of the lower extremities and cardiovascular function.

In the last three decades, he has pioneered awareness of the second heart that resides within every person. There has been so much validity built around Dr. McLeod's findings that a product specifically designed to assist the functioning of the "second heart" was created called the HeartPartner, which is sold to consumers throughout the United States.

HeartPartner employs proprietary technology to non-invasively enhance the performance of the Soleus muscles, also known as "the secondary hearts" of the human body. Take the 5-min. Unraveling the Great Resignation. Continue Reading. Business of Well-being. Featured Reading. Subscribe Join up to 50, human resources executives, benefits directors, wellness directors, and other corporate wellness stakeholders.

Your goal is to keep your calf muscles healthy by moving them as much as possible. Friday, November 12, Share on Facebook. How the Calf Muscle Pump Works Venous return refers to oxygen-depleted blood returning to the heart from the legs and feet.

These pumps include the ankle pump and the calf muscle pump, and they work together in the following process: The foot pump initiates venous return.

This occurs each time you take a step. When your heel touches down, blood is pooled in the veins. When the front of your foot touches down, that pooled blood is discharged upwards. The discharged blood enters veins in the soleus muscle. This muscle extends from the ankle to the back of the knee and contains critical veins responsible for passing oxygen-depleted blood through the lower legs to the knee, which serves as a meeting point for veins in the lower leg.

Each time this calf muscle contracts, it applies pressure to the veins. That pressure is what fuels venous return. The blood is transferred into veins running between the knee and the groin. From there, it enters the abdominal cavity and travels through the vena cava to the heart. There is less resistance from gravity on this final leg of the trip.

How to Protect Your Calf Muscles One study published in the Journal of Biomechanics in November of found that men and women with chronic heart failure have smaller calf muscles than healthy people with fully functional hearts.

Calf-Strengthening Exercises Believe it or not, one of the best things that you can do for your calves is walk. The following calf-strengthening exercises are good options: Calf Raises — This is a simple movement that you can do throughout the day in any location.

Lower your heels, and then lift them up again. Continue lifting and lowering for at least 10 repetitions. This is called a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. DVTs can cause leg pain and swelling.

Sometimes they do not cause any symptoms. DVTs can be dangerous because a blood clot can break off and travel in your blood stream and lodge in your lungs. If you have some of the symptoms listed above, or you think you have blood pooling, venous insufficiency, or a blood clot, call or email to set up a consultation with our vein specialists. Blog Your Second Heart. Written by Louis Prevosti, MD If you have some of the symptoms listed above, or you think you have blood pooling, venous insufficiency, or a blood clot, call or email to set up a consultation with our vein specialists.

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