Your second heart
- Charles Abbott
- Feb 13
- 2 min read
When we think about matters of the heart, we tend to look upwards. This Valentine’s Day, I invite you to look down. No - even further down...
The calf muscles are sometimes called the body’s "second heart" - and unlike most romantic metaphors, this one is anatomically sound. Every time you walk, rise onto your toes or perform those surprisingly tiring heel lifts in Pilates class, your calf muscles contract and squeeze the deep veins of your lower leg. This helps push blood back up towards the heart.
Because veins, rather inconveniently, don't have the same muscular oomph as arteries. They rely on one-way valves and the rhythmic squeezing action of surrounding muscles. In other words: without active calves, gravity wins.
When you sit for long periods, your second heart grows quiet. When you move, it switches back on. Romantic? Perhaps not. Important? Very.
Meet the family
Your calf is not one muscle, but primarily two:
Gastrocnemius - the visible muscle that gives your calf its shape. It crosses both the knee and ankle and is the one we call on for running, jumping and propulsion duties.
Soleus - the quieter, deeper muscle that works constantly when you are upright. It is rich in slow-twitch (Type I) fibres, making it remarkably fatigue-resistant. Built for loyalty, not drama.
The soleus, in particular, is often considered the true "second heart" because of its role in helping blood return upwards when you’re standing and walking.
Fun facts about your calves:
The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the body and can withstand forces of up to 6–8 times body weight during running.
Your calves act like a spring system. The Achilles stores elastic energy and releases it, making walking much more efficient.
Strong calves are essential for subtle balance corrections at the ankle - your first line of defence against wobbling.
The calf pump also assists lymphatic flow, helping reduce fluid stagnation in the lower legs.
Prolonged sitting means the pump isn’t working much, which is one reason movement feels so good after a long journey.
Your calves are, in short, hardworking and helpful in more ways than you might think. Rather like good Pilates teachers.
What this has to do with Pilates
When we do our walking on the spot, heel raises, standing balance work or "flexing and pointing" in Pilates, we are not "just working the ankles". With exercises like these we are:
Supporting circulation
Conditioning the Achilles tendon
Refining balance strategies
Improving propulsion in walking
Encouraging healthy load through the foot and lower limb
Small movements. Significant consequences.
A Valentine’s suggestion
This week, show your calves a little appreciation and come to Pilates. Think of it as a love letter to your second heart.
To view my teaching schedule and to book an online class, click here to go to the online classes page of my website.
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