What is a muscle pump? What is its function? What complaints occur when the function of the muscle pump is more limited? These questions will be answered below.
What is the muscle pump?
The muscle pump assists in the return of blood in the deeper veins that flow through the muscles. By tensing and relaxing the muscles, these deeper veins are compressed. The return flow of blood is directed toward the heart with the assistance of the muscle pump and venous valves.
Function and task
The muscle pump assists the return flow of blood in the deeper veins that pass through the muscles. In addition to the function of the muscle pump, there is the venous pump: the venous valves push the blood toward the heart. The way the venous valves work prevents the blood from flowing back: if the pressure above the venous valve becomes greater than below it as the blood passes through, it closes, preventing the blood from flowing back. However, the function of the venous pump alone is not sufficient to ensure the return flow of blood to the heart. Support from the muscle pump is necessary, especially in the legs. Therefore, the return flow of blood must be additionally supported by movements of the muscles in the form of the muscle pump. The fasciae, which run through the muscle tissue and surround the muscles externally, act as a natural abutment so that muscle movement can always exert pressure on the veins. A contracted muscle doing work reduces the diameter of the vein. The blood that is just there is forced up and down, continuing to be transported toward the heart through an opening venous valve at the top. The blood that is just above the vein valve adjacent to the bottom will cause the bottom vein valve to close, and with the suction from the top, will be carried on towards the heart. Thus, there is a continuous interplay between relaxed and tense muscles, opening and closing venous valves, ensuring blood flow back to the heart. A well-working muscle pump relieves the heart because the heart needs to do less work to move blood from the lower extremities into the veins and upward. The muscle pump can diminish in quality or stop working under a variety of circumstances. A cast induces deliberate lack of movement and causes the muscle pump to stop working. Sitting for long periods in an airplane or car also reduces the return flow of blood in the leg veins. This supports blood clots, thrombosis or edema. Venous diseases can develop as a result of lack of exercise: Muscles have not been sufficiently stimulated to move and have lost strength. The fasciae have lost tone and virtually fail as an abutment on the leg veins. A compression stocking or compression bandage must now act as an external abutment to eliminate edema and restore the return flow of blood. For a healthy, functioning metabolism, a balance between arterial oxygen and nutrient supply and venous removal of CO2 and metabolic waste products is of great importance. Resorting to external aids alone is not enough. The body must be encouraged to move and be metabolically active. Movement always results in higher calorie consumption. Applied to the legs, this means that rhythmic movements in particular, from the sole of the foot through the calves to the thighs, with tension and relaxation of the muscles, exert a pressure and suction effect and activate the vein pump and muscle pump. These movements, at least via active movement of the feet and calves, should be done frequently at a desk or standing workstation. Even more sensible are activities that challenge the muscles of the feet and the entire leg: walking, climbing stairs, hiking, Nordic walking, jogging, swimming or cycling contribute significantly to keeping the muscles, vein pump and muscle pump active and functional and to preventing venous diseases. Besides edema, varicose veins or thromboses are another consequence of an insufficient muscle pump.
Diseases and ailments
If people are so limited in their mobility that they can no longer mobilize themselves sufficiently or have peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK or shop window disease), polyneuropathy (such as as a result of diabetes mellitus or alcohol abuse), the measures with external compression and instructions for movement are no longer sufficient. Here come a
manual drainage or hydroven therapy as decongestive therapy are added to the treatment spectrum. If the return flow of blood is reduced, varicose veins and thromboses can develop. In primary varicose veins, the muscle pump in the deeper veins no longer functions adequately. The blood there backs up and flows toward the feet. This causes edema and the feeling of heavy legs. Itching and a feeling of tension can also occur. In more severe cases, eczema and inflammation of the skin can occur. The most feared is the ulcer, the poorly healing open leg, usually on the lower leg. The valves of the deep veins cannot do the job of transporting blood to the heart on their own. Now more blood flows back to the heart through the superficial veins and the varicose veins form. Secondary varicose veins form when a new bypass circuit is to be formed: In this case, a deeper vein is blocked by thrombosis. Thrombosis can also form in the superficial varicose veins. Symptoms of thrombosis may include: The leg feels heavy and aches. It feels warm in the affected area. The skin may turn a bluish color. The thrombosis ultimately needs to be resolved, operated on, or blood clotting is inhibited. Risk factors include smoking in combination with the birth control pill, obesity, surgery, pregnancy, and lack of exercise, even during long trips. With a well-developed muscle pump, the likelihood of not developing thrombosis or delaying its development is increased.
