Compression socks may sound like they are just for medical patients or athletes, but they offer benefits to everyday women and men, to improve their comfort and mobility in daily life. Whether you are on your feet all day, experiencing edema (swelling), or have vein deficiencies, compression garments can make a noticeable difference. Compression garments are not just for your grandmother, they are for anyone who experiences tired, achy legs at the end of the day or have jobs requiring them to travel, stand or sit for long periods of time.
What are Compression Socks?
Veins are under no pressure and often are working against gravity. For them to return blood from the feet to the heart they use several different methods, including the calf muscle pump and valves. The valves prevent back flow of blood, and the muscles push the blood up. When the veins become weak, the blood and fluid pools in the lower part of the body causing ‘edema’ (swelling), pain, and discomfort.
Compression socks can help move the blood through the veins as they are designed with a pressure gradient system measured in mmHg. The higher the compression level in mmHg, the more support you will receive. Compression socks have the most compression (tightest) at the ankle (to push the blood through the veins and up towards the heart) and have minimal compression at the top. There are different levels of compression, as well as a variety of styles, such as:
Levels of Compression
- 15-20 mmHg, which is considered off the shelf compression and does not require a prescription
- 20-30 mmHg, which is considered medical grade compression and requires a prescription. This is the most common compression level.
- Above 30 mmHg is medical grade and will require a prescription.
Styles
- Knee high – most common style, they end just before the knee
- Thigh high – they end at the upper-thigh
- Full/ panty hose – they go up to the waist
- Maternity – they are for pregnant women and are full length, but they have no compression on the belly
Are Compression socks for women only? The answer is no.
Although everyone could benefit from the use of compression, women tend to experience more of the common causes of vein deficiencies and therefore would greatly benefit from the use of compression garments. However, man or woman, if you are suffering from the following, getting fitted for compression will likely be helpful for you:
- Edema: Also known as swelling (https://www.bioped.com/bioped-treatments/leg-pain-posterior/), occurs when fluid gets trapped in the body. Usually swelling happens in the feet and lower legs because they are the furthest from the heart. Often caused from sitting or standing for long periods of time, someone with circulatory/heart conditions, or with a pregnancy will experience this more. During pregnancy there is an increase of pressure put on the lower extremities, especially during the last few months. Many women experience foot and leg edema and could benefit from the use of daily compression garments to ease their discomfort from swelling.
- Varicose Veins: These are damaged veins that appear large, bulging and hard on the surface of the skin. They will increase the pressure in the legs and cause pooling of the blood. Women are more likely to get varicose veins due to hormonal reasons, especially in pregnancy. Symptoms of varicose veins can be:
- Itchiness
- Skin discoloration
- Bulging veins
- Feeling of heaviness in your legs
- Aching or cramping of legs
- Spider Veins: They are damaged small veins and typically do not cause any symptoms. They get their name due to the size of the blood vessels that are involved and that they take on a dark red/ purple colour, appearing web like. Spider veins are mostly cosmetic, and affect women more than men, especially during pregnancy. To avoid getting spider veins, it is recommended to wear compression garments especially during the last few months of pregnancy.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT: This is a condition where a blood clot forms in the deep veins, usually in the leg. A clot can form when the vein(s) become damaged, or blood flow slows down or stops. There can be serious consequences if the blood clot breaks free and travels through the bloodstream. It can be fatal if it travels to the brain, lungs, or heart. Even if the blood clot does not break free it can cause permanent damage to the valves in the vein and cause pain, swelling and leg soreness. Often DVTs are caused from travel, injury or surgery and therefore, to prevent a clot from forming, compression garments are often prescribed to keep the blood flow moving.
Compression socks can be a simple, non-invasive way to enhance comfort, improve mobility, and reduce swelling so that you can do more of the things you love throughout the day. Whether you are looking for extra support due to standing or sitting all day or need specific solutions for conditions like varicose veins or even pregnancy, there are options available for everyone. If you are unsure where to start, don’t hesitate to consult a BioPed Clinician for personalized advice. At BioPed, our staff are compression fit certified!
Book your complimentary Assessment with BioPed today!
At BioPed, we keep you moving. Our Pedorthists, Chiropodists, and Advanced Footcare Nurses work closely together to ensure that you receive the best solution and care possible when preventing or treating any foot, ankle, or leg condition.
Since 1981 BioPed Footcare & Orthotics has proudly helped more than 1 million Canadians. We provide custom orthotic solutions, custom compression solutions, fitted bracing solutions, fitted and custom footwear, and medical footcare solutions, including surgical and non-surgical skin and nail care.
If you are suffering with any kind of lower limb or foot pain, book an assessment today and get back to doing more of the things you love in life! Start by finding your local Clinic here!
