Compression Socks/Hose

 

Compression Stockings

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People wear compression socks for comfort, to do better in sports, and to help prevent serious medical conditions.

 

Basically, they improve your blood flow. They can lessen pain and swelling in your legs. They can also lower your chances of getting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a kind of blood clot, and other circulation problems. 

 

Compression stockings can keep your legs from getting tired and achy. They can also ease swelling in your feet and ankles as well as help prevent/treat spider and varicose veins. They may even stop your from feeling light-headed or dizzy when you stand up.

 

What are they?

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Compression stocking are specialty made, snug-fitting stretchy stocks that gently squeeze your legs. Graduated compression or pressure stockings are tighter around your ankle and get looser as they move up your leg. Compression sleeves are just the tube part, without the foot.

 

FACT: Your body holds about 60,000 miles of blood vessels. 

 

Who uses them?

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-People with or at risk for circulation problems, like DVT, varicose veins, or diabetes

-People who’ve just gotten surgery

-Those who can leave their bed or have a hard time moving their legs.

-People who stand all day at work

-Athletes

-Pregnant women

-People who spend long stretches of time on airplanes, like pilots.

 

What do they do?

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The pressure these stockings put on your legs helps your blood vessels work better. The arteries that take oxygen-rich blood to your muscles can relax, so blood flows freely. The veins get a boost pushing blood back to your heart.

 

Because the blood keeps moving, it’s harder for it to pool in your veins and make a clot. If one forms and breaks free, it can travel with your blood and get stuck somewhere dangerous, like your lungs. Clots also make it harder for blood to flow around them, and that can cause swelling, discolored skin, and other problems. 

 

How to wear them:

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Stockings should fit snug, but not painfully tight.

 

-Smooth out the stocking so they lie plat against your skin. Avoid bunching.

-Make sure they aren’t to long. Don’t fold or roll the tops down, because that can make them to tight. It could cause blood flow problems or cut off your circulation like a tourniquet.

 

-If your provider told you to wear them, you will probably want to keep them on most of the time. Your provider will tell you how long you need to wear them. You can take them off to shower or bathe and you can wear socks, slippers, and shoes over compression stockings.