When we talk about heart health, we usually think about cardio, cholesterol, blood pressure and what we're eating.
But what about your calves? Yep. Your calves!
They're sometimes called your body's “second heart”—and for good reason.
Your heart pumps blood throughout your body, but once that blood reaches your legs, it has to make its way back up against gravity.
That's where your calf muscles come in.
Every time your calves contract—when you walk, climb stairs, do calf raises or even move your ankles—they squeeze the veins in your lower legs and help push blood back toward your heart.
Your veins have one-way valves that help keep blood moving in the right direction, making your calves an important part of your circulation system.
Think of them as a little built-in pump in your lower legs.
When you're sitting for long periods of time, your calf muscles aren't doing much. Getting up and moving regularly helps keep that muscle pump working.
Your calves are also part of the team that helps you walk, balance, climb stairs and push yourself forward with every step.
We spend a lot of time thinking about strengthening our core, arms and glutes—and we absolutely should. But let's not forget the muscles below the knee.
So, how do you work your "second heart"?
Walk. Take the stairs. Do some calf raises. Ankle circles. Point and flex. Get up from your desk. Do the things.
The goal isn't to spend hours “working your calves.” It's simply to use them. Your calves may be small, but they're doing a lot more than you probably give them credit for.
So the next time you're doing calf raises in class and wondering why are we still doing these?!—remember: Your “second heart” is hard at work.
