Daily walking not only helps you stay in shape but also significantly strengthens the calf muscles, which doctors call the "second heart" for their crucial role in propelling venous blood back to the chest, reports infohub.kz.
When the calf muscles contract, they compress the deep veins of the legs, helping blood move upward against gravity. This reduces the workload on the heart, prevents blood pooling in the lower extremities, and lowers the risk of edema, varicose veins, and deep vein thrombosis.
A sedentary lifestyle weakens the muscle-venous pump of the lower leg, forcing the heart to work twice as hard to maintain proper circulation. Regular physical activity helps keep blood vessels toned, normalizes blood pressure, and boosts overall endurance.
To maintain cardiovascular health, experts recommend combining regular walking with simple exercises: calf raises while standing or sitting, walking on tiptoes, and climbing stairs. Such everyday activity effectively activates the deep calf muscles, improves oxygen delivery to organs, and protects the circulatory system.