Foot pumps

 

Forcibly rocking the foot from the ankle activates the muscle pump in the calf.

Because of the valves in the veins, as the calf muscles contract and compress the vein the blood can only move in one direction, back to the heart. This s the venous foot pump.

The muscle pump in the calf

The veins of the lower limbs rely on a series of valves to help move the blood back to the heart. As the calf muscles contract, the blood - unable to go back down because of the valves - moves up back to the heart.

This keeps the circulation going, and helps to prevent blood clots in the calf (deep vein thrombosis).

• Quote from peer-reviewed paper:

  "....active ankle movement can produce higher [maximum venous capacity] and [maximum venous outflow] and faster blood velocity, possibly through the activation of the [calf muscle pump], and it promotes venous return and vein circulation....[and] is effective in preventing the formation of lower-extremity [deep vein thrombosis] after orthopedic surgery, accelerating postoperative recovery and improving patient satisfaction. "

  Citation: Li Y, Guan XH, Wang R, Li B, Ning B, Su W, Sun T, Li HY. Active Ankle Movements Prevent Formation of Lower-Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis After Orthopedic Surgery. Med Sci Monit. 2016 Sep 7;22:3169-76. doi: 10.12659/msm.896911. PMID: 27600467; PMCID: PMC5024560.

• Quote from peer-reviewed paper:

  "...participants reported less fatigue when performing [ankle pump exercises] at 30 times/min, which might promote the patients’ compliance...."

  Citation: Li H, Zhang W, Lu Q, Wang J, Zhi Y, Zhang L, Zhou L. Which Frequency of Ankle Pump Exercise Should Be Chosen for the Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis? Inquiry. 2022 Jan-Dec;59:469580221105989. doi: 10.1177/00469580221105989. PMID: 35658650; PMCID: PMC9168852.

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Why is it important to prevent deep vein thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis can be a killer if the peripheral blood clot breaks off and shoots up the blood vessels into the heart and lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolus.

Patients having knee surgery who are deemed at high risk will likely be given medication for a few days to try and prevent clots forming.

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• Quote from peer-reviewed paper:

  "....Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common diagnosis, contributing substantial morbidity and mortality to the population both in and outside the hospital....The most devastating complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism (PE), which is estimated to have a mortality rate as high as 30% within one month...."

  Citation: Fleck D, Albadawi H, Wallace A, Knuttinen G, Naidu S, Oklu R. Below-knee deep vein thrombosis (DVT): diagnostic and treatment patterns. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2017 Dec;7(Suppl 3):S134-S139. doi: 10.21037/cdt.2017.11.03. PMID: 29399516; PMCID: PMC5778527.

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Forum discussions

• "Massive PE 15 wks ago, now face further surgery"

  A patient considers all the practical interventions needed when a DVT has already occurred once before.

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