When we measure the effect of the geko® on increased blood flow, we use the resting blood flow as the comparator. Tucker et al1 compared the increase in volumetric blood flow between resting and with the geko® device activated, and found that the geko® increases the blood flow by 100% in the superficial femoral vein. The superficial femoral vein is the main vein that empties the lower limb and therefore is a good vein in which to measure the overall blood flow in the lower limb.
The measurement of blood flow is made using Doppler ultrasound: this requires the limb being measured to be stationary, therefore it is not possible for a measurement of blood flow during walking to be made.
However, it is known that the effectiveness of the calf muscle pump in pumping blood is approximately proportional to the degree of dorsiflexion. The dorsiflexion given by the geko® device is equal to 60% to that achieved by walking1. (Tucker et al J Angio Vol 19 No 1 Spring 2010)