Originally Posted by
sweeks
The lower extremities (legs) have veins with one-way valves in them. As the leg muscles contract, the veins are compressed forcing blood upwards toward the inferior vena cava (which also has these valves). So the muscles do, in fact, contribute to the flow of blood against gravity back to the heart.
True, in this way. I stand corrected.
I knew this at 14, it was given as the reason in that big blue Italian cycling federation book as the reason why all massage pressure should be in the direction of the heart IIRC.
I followed this admonition scrupulously so I didn't damage those vascular gates.