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A member asked:
Male 22, my calves are small, if i get them bigger and stronger will they pump more blood back up to the heart when using them?
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
No : It just doesn't work that way. Blood returns by means of veins. It's true that the muscular pumping action of your calves improves venous return by more completely emptying the veins, but this is useful for avoiding swelling (edema) in the legs; it won't make your heart any stronger or increase your cardiac output which depends on stroke volume (dependent on contractility) and heart rate.
Answered 8/16/2013
4.9k views
No: Increasing the size of your calves will increase your muscle mass and increase your endurance and metabolism. Muscle is the most metabolically active organ in your body. But they won't pump more blood to the right side of your heart. Venous return may get more efficient but the amount of blood won't increase. A combination of lower extremely weight exercise and aerobics will do the magic.
Answered 8/16/2013
4.9k views
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