The effect of passive foot flexion on blood circulation in sports and clinical medicine.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of the passive foot flexion on peripheral and systemic blood circulations in the state of rest of persons adapted to endurance physical loads, and on patients during surgery.

Methods: In the first series of experiments which included 16 males in recumbent supine position adapted to endurance physical loads, the effect of the passive foot flexion by applying a leg muscle activator on the systemic and peripheral blood circulations was analyzed. In the second series of experiments conducted with 6 males and 12 females, the passive foot flexion was aimed at preventing thromboembologenesis during the intraoperative period.

Results: After a session of the passive foot flexion applied to persons adapted to endurance physical loads, the venous reserve volume in them increased to 1.68+/-0.3 mL/100 mL (p<0.05). The maximal venous emptying rate increased to 48.3+/-8.8 mL/100 mL/min (p<0.05). After 15 min of the passive foot flexion, the indices of the systemic blood circulation were analogous to the ones before passive foot flexion. The maximal venous emptying rate in the calves of the left and right legs at the end of the surgery decreased to 59.7+/-4.7 mL/100 mL/min (p>0.05) and to 62.9+/-4.0 mL/100 mL/min (p>0.05), respectively.

Conclusions: The passive foot flexion applied to persons adapted to endurance physical loads increases venous reserve volume and maximal venous emptying rate. During the intraoperative period, the passive foot flexion increases maximal venous emptying rate from the triceps muscle of the calf thus decreasing the possible danger of thromboembologenesis.