Do your legs ever feel achy, tired or fatigued, heavy or swollen? If they do, you may have a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and would benefit from compression therapy.
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins in the legs have difficulty moving deoxygenated blood back up to the heart and lungs to be reoxygenated once again. This results in swelling and pooling of blood in the legs, ankles, and feet.
Blood vessels
We have two types of blood vessels in our bodies, arteries and veins.
Arteries supply our body tissues with oxygen and nutrients to keep them alive. Veins are responsible for returning the blood back to the heart and lungs to be reoxygenated once again.
They have little to no muscle in their walls and rely on the leg muscles to help squeeze the blood upwards. Veins also have one-way valves that prevent the blood from flowing back down with gravity. If the muscles are not actively squeezing the veins or the valves are incompetent, CVI may result.
Chronic venous insufficiency & compression
A number of factors that can contribute to a person developing CVI include:
â—Ź Sedentary lifestyle
â—Ź Prolonged standing still or sitting
â—Ź Increased body weight
â—Ź Pregnancy
â—Ź Genetic predisposition
â—Ź Advancing age
It is important to avoid long periods of standing still or sitting. Try to move more day-to-day by taking breaks when at work or home. If you can , going for a brief walk is an excellent way to get the blood circulating. Shifting your body weight when standing in one spot for a long time is also helpful.
If you must sit for an extended period of time, however, try to elevate your legs instead of keeping them in a dependent position with the feet flat on the ground. This will help facilitate the veins’ ability to return the blood back to the lungs and prevent swelling from accumulating. Always remember, having a more active lifestyle will benefit you in more ways than one.
Compression therapy
Compression therapy is effective at reducing swelling in the legs and feet and preventing more serious complications such as skin irritation, blisters or skin breakdown. It is available in knee and thigh-high socks and full pantyhose.
It mimics the action of the leg muscles through a gradient system, meaning the compression is highest or tightest at the ankles and gradually becomes less as it goes up the leg to create a squeezing effect
There are reasons why it may not be suitable to wear compression socks or hose:
â—Ź Poor arterial circulation
â—Ź Issues with the liver, heart or kidneys
â—Ź Untreated blood clots
â—Ź Allergy to the compression sock material
Learn more about compression.
