Sunny Health & Fitness SH-0601 - Manual (Page 2)

APPENDIX C: HEART & SOLE - MORE ON CIRCULATION
Blood pumped by the heart is constantly circulating around the body. This has several essential
purposes, among them to supply the body's cells with food and oxygen, and to clear them of
waste products.
The circulation is a closed network of blood vessels - in other words, tubes that carry blood
around the body. At its center is the heart, a muscular pump with the job of keeping the blood in
constant motion from the arteries to capillaries to veins and back in a circulatory flow assisted by
muscular contractions.
Uneven, interrupted or impeded supply of oxygenated blood could cause minor discomfort like
headaches, backaches and taut muscular pain. Should this happen over a period of months or
even years, it could lead to more serious problems with modern luxuries and pressures of
challenging times as the main attributing factor. For instance, when watching TV for a prolonged
period of time, especially with improper posture, the muscles on our shoulders, back, neck or
waist will tend to cramp up. The lack of movement strains the muscles supporting the backbone,
making them taut and therefore impeding blood flow. When this happens, carbonic acid and
other waste within the muscle will form a lump, which in turn leads to the cramped feeling in the
affected areas.
The circulation of blood throughout our bodies is automatically regulated according to our
activities; with the upward flow being the most strenuous as it is aggravated by gravity pull and
other factors like the elasticity of muscular movements, etc.
The heart cannot handle this heavy task alone. That's why part of this responsibility is passed on
to an unlikely partner; our feet. Our feet play an important supporting role in the circulatory
process. You see, 40 - 50% of total muscle mass in the human body is centered on the feet.
These muscles, particularly those on the soles of our feet, act as aid pumps that help circulate
blood throughout our body. Keeping our feet in constant motion thus helps improve the efficiency
of our circulatory process.
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