Contraction of lower limb musculature forces blood from the peripheral vasculature via the ‘muscle pump’ mechanism, normally mediated via locomotion or voluntary contractions (Sochart & Hardinge, 1999). A novel form of plantar surface electrical stimulation may also be effective in activating the muscle pump via involuntary muscle contractions to provide a convenient user-friendly method of lower leg electrical stimulation. 16 (11♂) healthy volunteers (28±2yrs; 23±3 BMI) gave informed consent to participate in the study which received local ethics committee approval. Thirty min of voluntary heel raise exercise (VOL; 10/min) was compared to 30 min of plantar surface electrical stimulation using a device that incorporates an in-built rocker to allow flexion/extension of the ankle joint (ES; 10-50Hz modulated triplets 500usec-1msec; 2x motor threshold; Revitive IX, Actegy, Ascot, UK). During VOL the participant voluntarily rotated the device around its rocker in the absence of ES. The maximum range of rocking was ±15 degrees and joint range of motion (ROM; electrogoniometry) was monitored throughout. Cutaneous tissue perfusion and temperature (Laser Doppler Flowmetry; LDF), along with tissue oxygenation (Near-infrared spectroscopy; NIRS) were measured from the calf (m. gastrocnemius lateralis) and foot (LDF: dorsum; NIRS: m. abductor hallucis). Cutaneous perfusion and tissue oxygenation were normalised to baseline values and a two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied to each outcome measure (VOL vs. ES; mean ± SEM). ROM was similar during ES and VOL (4.91±0.35° vs. 5.31±0.43°, p=0.27). Participants deemed ES non-painful. ES enhanced tissue perfusion to a significantly greater extent than VOL in both foot (7.68±0.96 vs. 3.75±0.42, p<0.001) and calf (5.27±0.59 vs. 2.51±0.17, p<0.001). Tissue oxygenation was improved to a similar extent after ES and VOL (foot: 1.10±0.05 vs. 1.04±0.04; calf: 1.06±0.01 vs. 1.03±0.01, p<0.001). Foot and calf temperature was maintained or raised after ES (foot: 28.97±0.46°C vs. 29.08±0.45°C, p>0.05; calf: 28.37±0.23°C vs. 28.67±0.23°C, p=0.015; pre vs. post) whereas after VOL, it decreased in the foot (28.68±0.32°C vs. 28.22±0.35°C, p=0.014; pre vs. post) and remained unchanged in the calf (28.28±0.14°C vs. 28.18±0.16°C, p>0.05; pre vs. post). The results suggest that non-painful ES of the plantar surface is effective at increasing lower limb perfusion and tissue oxygenation to a similar or greater extent as voluntary exercise. The maintained and elevated temperature of the foot and calf with ES may be explained by its additional effects on cutaneous circulation. Electrical stimulation of the plantar surfaces may be useful for certain clinical conditions such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease for improving circulation and maintaining the health of foot and leg tissues.