Muscle pump

A muscle pump , or venous pump , is the support of the blood circulation through the movements of the muscles .

By tensing and relaxing the muscles during movement, the veins running deep in the muscles are repeatedly compressed, which leads to an improved blood flow back . Due to the venous valves, this can only ever take place in the direction of the heart . The muscle fascia acts as a natural abutment for muscle movement, so that muscle movement can always act on the veins. In the case of venous diseases, a compression bandage or a compression stocking is used as an external abutment, so to speak. These forms of therapy are only effective in sufficiently mobile people and people without arterial occlusive disease or polyneuropathy . Further options in compression therapy are manual drainage, intermittent pneumatic compression (IPK), and apparatus intermittent compression (AIK), which can also be used in immobile patients and the latter to a very limited extent and under strict medical supervision in patients with PAOD or polyneuropathy.

A failure of the muscle pump due to lack of exercise, for example due to a plaster cast or long periods of sitting ( long-distance travel ), reduces the blood flow in the leg veins and promotes the development of blood clots ( thrombosis ) and edema.