Comparison of the Effects of Calf Pump Exercise on Venous Blood Flow in People with and without Anamnesis

Prolonged standing causes high blood pressure in the veins of the legs, contributing to damage to the valves of the veins, leading to chronic venous disease. This condition can be alleviated by activating the calf muscle pumps. This study was conducted to determine the effects of calf pump exercise on leg venous blood flow and to compare its effects in people with and without previous history of leg problem. Twenty-eight participants without a diagnosis of varicose veins and without limitations in ankle mobility were recruited for this study, and they were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a history of leg problems. The delay of blood flow was measured using ultrasonic images with a color Doppler, and the delay time was measured using the iPhone 11 camera application. Calf pump exercise was performed by lowering and raising heel while standing with 5 cm high wooden board touching the forefoot. There was found a significant difference in the delay time of blood flow between the groups with and without the history after the exercise (p<0.05). This finding suggests that calf pump exercises may help improve venous flow in the legs, especially in people with a history of leg problems.