When someone injures their wrist or ankle, for instance, we’re told that we must promote circulation to that area so it can heal faster. But how exactly does the blood passing through an affected area cause it to heal? It’s just passing through in the veins. Does the blood flow stimulate the tissue, or something?
In: Biology
Blood contains FIBRINOGEN that (in easy terms) seals up the cut portion. So more circulation means more blood passing through that cut portion, and that leads to more FIBRINOGEN in that portion and hence heals the injury.
There are other factors involved as well.. but I think it’s the primary.
>It’s just passing through in the veins
Well yes, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an effect. Think about how the blood transports oxygen; the red blood cells stay in the blood vessels and don’t actually go through the vessel walls into the tissue, but the oxygen itself does. In the same vein (pun intended), nutrients, useful proteins, waste products, etc. are all trafficked through the vessel walls, from the blood into the tissue (and vice versa, in the case of waste products).
When you have an injury, you basically have damage to muscles/ligaments/tendons/etc. The healing process is effectively the same as getting a cut on your skin, except it’s…under the skin. Blood flow to the damaged areas helps bring nutrients and proteins that are required for the construction of new tissue. Platelets and other clotting factors control bleeding from ruptured blood vessels, and collagen and other proteins facilitate tissue rebuilding.
Blood carries the required neutrients to replenish the damaged cells. If you restrict bloodflow to the area the cells will not get the proteins and minerals it needs and will not be able to repair themselves. It does not require much to restrict the blodoflow a bit. It could be that you are putting pressure on the vains which restricts them a bit. This is similar to what happens when your limb “falls asleep”.
Latest Answers