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Forced expiration against an airway obstruction was originally described as a method for inflating the Eustachian tubes and is accredited to Antonio Maria Valsalva (1666–1723). The Valsalva maneuver is commonly applied for different diagnostic purposes. Its use for phlebologic diagnosis is the object this review. Venous reflux is the most frequent pathophysiologic mechanism in chronic venous disease. Reflux is easily visualized by duplex ultrasound when properly elicited, in standing position. A simple way to elicit reflux is the so-called “compression-release maneuver”: by emptying the muscle reservoir, it determines a centrifugal gradient, dependent on hydrostatic pressure, creating an aspiration system from the superficial to the deep system. The same results are obtained with dynamics tests activating calf muscles. The Valsalva maneuver elicits reflux by a different mechanism, increasing the downstream …