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[Purpose] We examined the speed of the blood flow in the vena femoralis to verify the effects of an elastic stocking, intermittent air pressure and active ankle movement on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. [Subjects] The subjects were 16 healthy men who had no history of vascular lesion. [Method] We performed a comparative study on the speed of blood flow speed in the vena femoralis among five conditions: at rest, wearing elastic stockings, intermittent air pressure, and active ankle movements of 40 or 80 times a minute. [Results] The blood flow speed was 30.7 ± 5.2 cm/s at rest, 29.1 ± 6.6 cm/s wearing the elastic stocking, 50.4 ± 19.3 cm/s with intermittent air pressure, and 50.7 ± 21.7 cm/s and 59.3 ± 38.4 cm/s for active ankle movements of 40 and 80 times a minute, respectively. Significant differences were found between volitional movement at 80 times a minute and wearing a stocking and at rest. [Conclusion] Active movement of 80 times a minute increased the blood flow speed, suggesting that changes are not seen with external stimuli or slow muscle pumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]