Our calves are supposed to be a “second heart” – this phrase appears again and again in health and fitness media. However, you shouldn’t take it quite literally.
Of course, medically there is only one heart. But there is a real physiological mechanism behind the term: the calf muscle pump supports the return transport of blood from the legs to the heart. She becomes particularly active when walking, climbing stairs or rocking on her toes.
Why the calf is sometimes called the “second heart.”
The heart pumps blood through the arteries to the legs. The blood then has to flow back to the heart via the veins – and when you stand or sit, sometimes against gravity.
Several mechanisms help here. The venous valves and the muscles of the legs are particularly important. When the calf muscles contract, they press on the deeper veins. This causes blood to move upwards. The venous valves act like check valves and make it difficult for the blood to flow back down.
The expression “second heart” is therefore an illustrative comparison, not a medical term. Your calves in no way replace the pumping power of the heart. However, they perform an important auxiliary function for the venous blood flow.
What happens in your calves when you walk
The muscle pump works most clearly when you move your feet and ankles. When walking, the veins in the lower leg are compressed and blood is transported towards the knee and heart.
If you sit or stand for a long time, the calf muscle pump works less. The blood is then not transported as actively from the legs back towards the heart. This is why your legs may feel heavy or somewhat swollen after long periods of sitting.
What is more important than particularly strong calves is: exercise. Particularly hard calf training is not necessarily crucial: regular exercise in everyday life activates the pump again and again and thus helps blood circulation.
This is how you keep your calves fit in everyday life
Small habits can help you strengthen your calves:
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Take a few steps regularly: If you sit a lot, get up every now and then and walk briefly through the office, through the apartment or up the stairwell.
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Rock your feet: While sitting, pull your toes up and then press them down again. Such so-called “ankle pumps” are also used in the medical field to activate the calf muscles.
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Do calf raises: slowly stand on your toes and lower your heels back down. This can be done while brushing your teeth, cooking or waiting for coffee.
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Take the stairs more often: Climbing stairs challenges the calves with almost every step and at the same time brings more movement to the whole body.
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Do sport: Of course, slight muscle building through classic sport is also helpful and healthy. Whether jogging, cycling or dancing: By being on your feet more often, you also train healthy calves.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Exercise every day: these are the consequences
- Circulatory problems: symptoms, causes and what can help
- Isometric exercises: That’s why they’re particularly good for the heart
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