What are Compression Socks and Why Should You Wear Them?

By Rehan Iqbal

There are a number of different conditions that may cause the need for compression socks. In some cases, these supportive socks may be worn temporarily. In others, it’s necessary to make them a permanent part of your wardrobe. In this article, we discuss compression socks and provide sound advice on why, how and when to wear them. Read on to learn more.

What Do Compression Socks Do?

Wearing compression socks keeps your blood flowing effectively in your lower legs. This helps tired or injured muscles repair and prevents achiness. Good blood circulation in the lower legs also helps prevent serious conditions, such as heart problems. This is important for people of all ages.

These specialized socks apply pressure to your calves and shins to help reduce pain and swelling while maintaining good blood flow to your lower limbs and from you lower limbs to your heart. Your doctor may recommend compression socks if you have large, swollen veins (varicose veins) or if you have swelling of the lower legs (lymphedema).

In addition to these reasons, there are several other reasons why all sorts of people might wear compression socks. Among them are:

Tired legs and feet: If you have a job that keeps you standing for much or all of the day, compression socks can help alleviate cramps, soreness and tiredness. Wearing compression socks preventatively can help keep you from developing spider veins, varicose veins or lymphedema.
Avoiding injury: Wearing compression socks can help you avoid a lot of injuries and conditions associated with exercise and with every day life, such as:

Plantar Fasciitis
Ankle Sprain
Shin Splints
Calf Strain
Calf Sprain

By wearing compression socks while working, exercising or simply going about your daily tasks, you can prevent and avoid injury. This is especially important if your activities tend to make you fatigued. Extra support can make all the difference to the health and stability of tired muscles.

Recovery: If you are suffering from a lower leg sports or other injury, wearing compression socks provides support to the injured tissues while encouraging good blood circulation and fast healing.
Better athletic performance: If you participate in high endurance sports, you are likely to suffer quite a bit of muscle strain. Wearing compression socks during sports activities helps improve circulation and prevents the buildup of lactic acids in your muscles. This results in less muscle ache and strain.
Reduction in edema and swelling: Poor circulation causes fluid to pool in your lower limbs. This can happen as a long term condition, or it may be a temporary situation. For example, you may experience swelling in your calves and ankles while seated for a long period of time (e.g. on a plane trip). You might have swollen lower legs and ankles while pregnant.

No matter what the cause, compression socks can alleviate this problem. This is a good thing in both the short and long term because chronically swollen tissues mean inflammation. Inflammation means pain and greater potential for injury.
Reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots: If you have been diagnosed with DVT, compression socks are an absolute must for preventing swelling and the development of blood clots. If you work in front of a computer all day, or are otherwise forced to stay seated for long periods of time, wearing compression socks can help prevent resulting blood clots.
Increasing muscle stability: Your legs carry you around every day of your life, if you keep them in shape. Wearing compression socks can help you do just that. Compressing the muscles in your calves reduces their lateral movement. This means less wear and tear on these hard-working muscles. This is especially important for people who must walk or stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time.
Better heart health: When blood pools in your lower legs, it is not making its way back to your heart efficiently. This means reduced overall circulatory function and stale, low oxygen blood. Compression socks help your veins carry the blood from your extremities back to your heart to be processed, oxygenated and used correctly throughout your body.
Greater mobility: Chronic conditions and simple aging can lead to reduced mobility. The consistent support provided by compression socks can make a huge difference in the every day life experience of seniors and of people experiencing a wide variety of chronic health conditions.

How Are You Fitted With Compression Socks?

When your doctor prescribes compression socks, he or she will measure your feet and legs to determine the right size for you. The doctor or nurse will show you how to wear the socks and will check to be sure they are properly fitted. You’ll go back for a recheck and to get new socks between two and four times annually.

How Do You Wear Compression Socks?

It’s important to put your socks on correctly every day. Be sure they are pulled up completely, without causing pressure on your toes. If they have wrinkles, you may develop pressure sores. If they are falling down, they are improperly fitted or worn out and should be replaced.

Compression socks come in pairs, and usually, you’ll wear compression socks on both feet/legs, but if your condition only affects one leg, you may wear just one. This can be thrifty and handy as a single pair will go twice as far, and you can wear one while the other is being washed and dried.

How Do You Launder Compression Socks?

Never machine wash and dry your compression socks. They should be hand washed in fairly warm water and line dried.

Do You Have To Wear Compression Socks All The Time?

If your socks are intended to address a chronic condition or situation, whenever you are up and active, you should wear them. It’s best to put them on first thing in the morning and take them off before going to bed at night.

If you are wearing them for sport participation, for safety on a plane flight or for some other specific purpose, naturally you would let that purpose be your guide.

Who Should Wear Compression Socks?

We are used to thinking of compression socks as a medical accessory to be used by people suffering from serious health conditions, but the fact is, anyone can benefit from the use of these supportive socks. Regardless of your age, activity level, social standing or any other considerations, you may experience muscle strain and fatigue, situations when you cannot move around as much as you need to, lower leg injuries, etc. In all of these situations, compression socks can help prevent or alleviate pain from injuries and keep your blood flowing healthily to your heart.

What Do Compression Sock Look Like?

These practical socks can range in appearance from quite utilitarian and medical to very sporty and fashionable. They come in a wide variety of strengths, lengths and sizes and an array of colors and patterns. You can find nice looking, light support compression socks (or full length stockings, leggings or tights) in pharmacies and online. If you need strong support, you’ll need to see your doctor.

Is There Any Reason Not To Wear Compression Socks?

There is really no downside to wearing compression socks. Not matter what your age, level of health or activity, you can benefit from the added support and improved blood circulation compression socks provide. When you put them on, you will probably feel the benefits right away. The bottom line is, everyone should have at least one set of compression socks on hand.