Discover the Health Benefits of Wearing Compression Socks

If you are an athlete, pregnant woman, older adult, or professional who sits or stands for extended periods of time, compression socks can help. These special socks improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and prevent swelling in your legs and ankles. Please keep reading to learn about the advantages of using compression stockings. We will also talk about how you should use compression socks for the maximum positive impact on your lower legs and overall health.

What Are Compression Socks?

Compression socks are socks that gently squeeze your leg muscles and improve blood flow in your leg veins. This helps to prevent pooling of blood in your lower legs. It relieves edema (swelling) and may lower your risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis). 

Your healthcare provider may recommend wearing compression garments on your legs if you have recently had surgery or have medical conditions such as spider veins or varicose veins (venous insufficiency).

Types of Compression Socks and Their Uses

Compression socks are usually made from a blend of stretchy synthetic materials such as spandex (Lycra or elastane), nylon, and polyester, which provide elasticity, compression, and comfort.

There are different types of compression stockings with different compression levels (firm, medium, or mild compression), lengths (knee-high, thigh-high, or waist-high), and availability (over-the-counter versus medical-grade compression socks).  

• Graduated compression socks are usually custom-made after a professional fitting. They provide maximum compression at the ankles and reduced pressure towards the top of your leg. Wearing graduated compression stockings up to knee level can help with edema (lower leg swelling due to fluid buildup). Thigh-high or waist-high compression garments, or those that offer abdominal compression, are prescribed for orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure with changes in posture).

• Anti-embolism stockings also provide graded pressure. They are designed to lower the risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) and venous ulcers in people who are immobile, for example, due to recent surgery or injuries.

• Non-medical-grade support hosiery is available over the counter at pharmacies and drug stores. These compression socks provide light to medium compression to improve blood flow. They are sold as flight socks or socks designed to reduce fatigue, swelling, and aching in the legs and ankles.

How Do Compression Socks Work?

When you wear compression stockings, it places pressure on your feet, ankles, and legs. This compresses the veins in your legs, thus preventing reflux (backflow) of blood in your leg veins and improving blood flow back toward your heart. Wearing compression stockings can, therefore, help to relieve symptoms such as:

• A feeling of heaviness in the legs

• Aching legs

• Edema or swelling in the legs

• Irritation of the skin

• Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) in people who are immobile or less active due to an injury or surgery

• Complications of DVT (blood clots in the legs), such as pain and swelling 

Health Benefits of Wearing Compression Socks

Improved Circulation

Gravity can prevent proper circulation in the legs in people who spend a lot of time sitting or standing. This can result in swollen lower legs, ankles, and feet, leading to discomfort and soreness. 

Graduated compression socks can help in boosting circulation by applying pressure on the leg veins. This helps to prevent the pooling of blood in the lower legs and push blood toward the heart, even when standing or sitting.

People who can benefit from compression stockings prophylaxis (preventive use) include those who stand or sit for long periods of time due to their occupation (for example, nurses, teachers, office workers) and those undertaking long flights or car rides. 

Reduced Swelling and Inflammation

People with chronic venous insufficiency have damaged valves in their leg veins that allow blood to pool (collect) in the legs. This fluid buildup is called peripheral edema. It can result in symptoms such as pain, swelling, inflammation, skin changes, varicose veins, leg ulcers, and blood clots. 

Risk factors and causes of chronic venous insufficiency include: 

• Pregnancy

• Obesity 

• Damage to leg veins from surgery, injury, or blood clots

• Inflammation of leg veins (phlebitis)

• Prolonged sitting or standing

• Lack of exercise

• Smoking

People with chronic venous insufficiency can benefit from wearing a compression stocking to improve lymphatic drainage and blood flow, reduce pain, and decrease leg swelling and inflammation. Gradient compression is especially effective in counteracting the effects of gravity and pushing blood back toward the heart. 

Treatment and Prevention of Varicose Veins

Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Leg veins and lymphatic vessels have one-way valves that keep blood flowing toward the heart. When these valves become weak or damaged, lymphatic fluid and blood starts to flow backward and pool in the legs. This is called reflux. It causes enlarged and tortuous veins called varicose veins.

Varicose veins can develop due to increased blood pressure in leg veins because of age-related damage to the valves. It can also occur because of pregnancy, obesity, sitting or standing for extended periods of time, or leading an inactive lifestyle. 

Healthcare providers may recommend compression therapy for emergent varicose veins or during the recovery process after a procedure to treat varicose veins. In such cases, compression socks provide gradient compression and gentle pressure on the legs. This helps to prevent varicose veins from getting worse or re-forming after treatment. Compression socks can also prevent blood clots and lower the risk of complications such as venous ulcers.

Decreased Symptoms of Orthostatic Hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension, also called postural hypotension, is a type of low blood pressure that occurs when going from a lying or sitting position to standing. Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension may include dizziness, lightheadedness, blurry vision, weakness, confusion, and fainting.

Wearing waist-high compression stockings that provide abdominal compression can improve blood flow and reduce the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension during the daytime. 

Enhanced Recovery and Performance

Compression socks may benefit athletes and active individuals by improving circulation in the legs. This can improve exercise performance, reduce delayed onset muscle soreness, and decrease fatigue and muscle recovery time.  

A prospective randomized controlled study in elite wheelchair rugby athletes in Australia found compression socks worn during exercise helped in maintaining performance and increased blood flow to the upper limbs.

When and How to Wear Compression Stockings

When Should You Wear Compression Socks?

You should follow your doctor’s instructions on when and how long to wear compression socks if you have a medical condition. For example, if you wear compression stockings for orthostatic hypotension, your healthcare provider may recommend you take them off at bedtime.

Your doctor may recommend wearing compression socks daily for:

• Prolonged periods of immobility due to injury or surgery.

• Health conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, or deep venous thrombosis.

• Occupations that involve sitting or standing for prolonged periods.

You may benefit from wearing compression stockings in special circumstances, such as:

• Long flights or car rides

• Pregnancy

• Before and after workouts

Should I Wear Compression Socks if I Sit All Day?

Wearing compression socks may prevent blood from pooling in your legs and ankles if you sit all day, thereby preventing swelling and discomfort. If you find it uncomfortable to wear compression socks all day long, try keeping them on for just a few hours while sitting.

How to Choose the Right Compression Socks?

Pick the right type of compression socks: If over-the-counter compression socks are not working well enough to decrease swelling, you might need custom-made medical-grade graduated compression stockings or anti-embolism stockings.

Choose the correct compression level: Choose between different compression levels based on your symptoms and condition: 

• Low compression (pressure less than 20 mmHg) for long flights or car rides. 

• Medium compression (pressure between 20 and 30 mmHg) for swelling and pain related to varicose veins or prevention of DVT. 

• Moderate to high compression (pressure between 30 and 40 mmHg) for severe swelling and pain. 

• Firm compression (pressure between 40 and 50 mmHg) for severe vein damage and prevention of blood clots. 

Tips for Proper Fitting and Use of Compression Socks

Putting Them O

To put on a compression sock, hold the top of the sock and roll it down to the heel of the stocking. Push your foot into the stocking as far as possible until your heel sits in the heel of the stocking. Pull the stocking up by unrolling it over your leg. Smooth out any wrinkles. Don’t allow the stocking to bunch up. Knee-length compression stockings should sit 2 fingerbreadths below your knee bend.

Tips To Make Compression Socks Easier to Use

Compression stockings can be hard to put on. These tips may help:

• Put on your compression socks first thing in the morning before getting out of bed when your legs are least swollen. 

• Use lotion, baby powder, or cornstarch on your legs before putting on the stockings.

• Wear rubber dishwashing gloves to smoothen the stockings.

• Purchase a stocking donner online or from a medical supply store. This device helps to slide the compression stocking over your foot. 

Keeping Your Compression Socks Clean

• Purchase two pairs so you can wear one pair and wash and dry the other pair.

• Wash your compression socks with mild soap and water daily and allow them to air dry. 

• Replace your compression stockings every 3 to 6 months to maintain their support and compression.

Is There a Downside to Compression Socks?

Possible Discomfort and How to Mitigate It

Compression socks don’t cause problems for most people. However, some people can develop discomfort, itching, swelling, rash, blisters, or skin irritation after wearing compression stockings. More serious adverse effects of compression stockings include pressure sores, nerve damage, and tissue necrosis (death).

Importance of Proper Fitting

Poorly fitted compression stockings can put uneven pressure in one area, causing damage to fragile skin and increasing your risk of serious side effects. You can lower your risk by wearing well-fitted compression socks. It’s also important to check your skin daily for color changes and signs of irritation. Tell your doctor if you develop any discomfort or skin changes. It may be that your stockings are not properly fitted, you’re not using them correctly, you’re allergic to the stocking material, or you have a skin infection.

Who Should Avoid Compression Socks?

People with certain medical conditions such as peripheral artery disease should avoid compression socks. These socks can reduce blood flow by making blood vessels narrower. Always consult a healthcare provider before using compression stockings if you have pre-existing health conditions.