Why do we elevate injuries to promote recovery? If this is the correct thing to do, why does the body send more blood to the injury?
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It’s to reduce the swelling, which causes more pain.
The heart pumps blood out through the arteries, a high pressure system.
The veins return the blood passively, along with the lymph system, helped along by muscles, and by gravity if it’s above the heart. So, if an arm, for instance, is injured, with leaky vessels pouring out white cells – creating more congestion on the lymph system, then raising that arm above the level of the heart, improves return flow.
When a part of the body is swollen, there is a lot of space between cells full of fluid and debris, making it more difficult for the arterial system carrying oxygen and nutrients, to reach all the cells. Elevating that arm helps drain it back into the system.
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