Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the common complications during the perioperative period of abdominal surgery. Execution of lower limb movements is the most basic and important measure to prevent DVT during the perioperative period of abdominal surgery, because of its effects of promoting blood flow and overcoming thrombus formation. In this paper, the authors review the risk factors for perioperative DVT in abdominal surgery, and its incidence rate, and different lower limb movement patterns with their current application status in abdominal surgery as well as the limitations of lower limb movements, so as to provide recommendations for future research.