03/15/2023
Soleus Muscles and Blood Flow to the Brain
Cerebral blood flow refers to the amount of blood that flows through the brain. It is a critical aspect of brain function because the brain requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to operate correctly. Without proper blood flow, the brain cannot function correctly, leading to cognitive impairment and potentially severe brain damage.
The Soleus muscles, located in the lower legs, play a crucial role in maintaining cerebral blood flow. These muscle, along with other leg muscles, help to push blood upward in the body, against the force of gravity, to the heart. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of cerebral blood flow and the role the Soleus muscles play in pumping blood back to the heart.
Cerebral Blood Flow
The adult body holds about 5 quarts of blood, and all of this blood is pumped through the heart every minute or less. Cerebral blood flow refers to the amount of blood that flows up to the brain. While the brain makes up only 2% of the body's weight, it requires 20% of total blood flow under resting conditions. Proper cerebral blood flow ensures that the brain is receiving the necessary oxygen and nutrients to function correctly.
The blood outflow from the heart, which occurs when the heart contracts, is regulated by how much blood flows back into the heart when the heart is relaxing. This can be a challenge for the body, as when we are sitting or standing, gravity constantly pulls the blood in our body down into our legs and feet. The only way this blood can get back up to the heart is to be pumped. If an insufficient amount of blood is pumped back up to the heart, blood pressure will fall, and cerebral blood flow will decline.
The Soleus Muscles
The Soleus muscles are large, flat muscle located in the lower legs. They are one of the muscles responsible for plantar flexion, which is the movement that occurs when you stand on your toes. The Soleus muscles are responsible for maintaining posture when standing or squatting. While allowing us to maintain a standing or squatting posture, the soleus muscles also serve as the pumps which return blood back to the heart. This allows the heart to provide sufficient blood flow to maintain normal blood pressure as well as blood flow up to the brain.
The Soleus muscles are unique because they contain a high concentration of slow-twitch muscle fibers. Slow-twitch muscle fibers are well-suited for endurance activities because they are resistant to fatigue and so can sustain contractions for extended periods. To maintain this fatigue resistance requires sustained exercise, such as toe-standing or squatting exercises. If such exercises do not fit into your lifestyle, the HeartPartner can be a great way to activate the Soleus muscles and ensure normal cerebral blood flow levels.