What Are Compression Socks And Who Are They For?
Compression socks aren’t your ordinary ankle or knee-high socks that you can pick up from the store. No matter how old you are, compression socks can help increase blood circulation throughout your body, which in turn helps boost your energy levels and reduces any swelling, tiredness, or soreness in your feet and legs.Since your legs and feet are at the bottom of your body and because of the natural force of gravity, the blood in your veins in your feet has to work extra hard to travel back up to the heart. Poor circulation or other medical conditions can cause your blood to pool, which leads to foot and leg swelling, fatigue, and pain. Compression socks relieve this issue because they are designed to squeeze the foot and leg tissues enough to improve blood flow. Leg compression garments have the strongest support at the ankle and gradually decreases towards the top (closest to the knee). The high-tech fibers and materials for compression socks provide support and comfort for your feet, ankles, calves, and legs, while the graduated pressure helps improve circulation in your legs and muscles.
Compression Can Help Medical Conditions
Many medical conditions can cause swelling and discomfort in the legs and feet. Circulation problems lead to issues with blood flow, and some people are more prone to leg swelling in general. If you’re suffering from foot conditions like plantar fasciitis, compression socks for plantar fasciitis promote circulation for faster healing and provide a bit of additional heel and Achilles support. While standing for long periods of time can cause blood to pool in your feet, sitting can cause unhealthy constrictions of the blood vessels in your legs. Compression socks, if worn regularly can help ward off or prevent circulation issues from becoming a problem for you in the future.While 15-20 mmHg of compression does not require a recommendation from a medical professional, you should still visit your doctor as a preemptive measure. In this situation, if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms of venous diseases and are just seeking compression for all-day comfort, you should be wearing 15-20 mmHg or 20-30 mmHg of compression. 15-20 mmHg is generally used to relieve achy legs, while 20-30 mmHg is used for symptoms like leg fatigue or heaviness.
Compression Socks Can Provide Overall Comfort
So, what if you’re not a runner, flight attendant or desk jockey and don’t have any medical conditions or surgeries? Do you really need compression socks? The great thing about compression socks is the average person can use them without having a medical or occupational need for them. If you’ve been on your feet all day and your legs are tired and worn out, compression socks are a good way to recover from your long day! Compression socks are an easy way to promote better circulation and keep your legs and feet healthy.Benefits of Wearing Graduated Compression
- They help reduce swelling in the feet and legs.
- They improve overall blood flow and oxygenation.
- They help improve recovery time of achy/sore muscles.
- They are antimicrobial, so your feet won’t stink.
- They are breathable, so they won’t make your legs feel hot or itchy.
- They help reduce the risk of developing DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis, or blood clots).
*The benefits of wearing compression garments are dependent on wearing the garment properly. Make sure you are not only purchasing the correct size garment but also putting the garment on correctly. To put on a compression garment, first start with the garment inside-out. Then, put your foot into the toe of the sock first, and using your fingertips, gently slide the rest of the stocking up your leg, carefully smoothing out any bumps or creases. Also, be careful to not yank the stocking from the top, as this could cause the stocking to rip or become damaged (although many fabrics used for compression are very durable).