Many health conditions can be prevented and improved by wearing specialized socks besides keeping your feet warm and dry. A compression stocking is a specialized pair of socks that applies gentle pressure to your legs and ankles. Improving blood flow from your legs to your heart can help you feel better.
You can benefit from compression socks if you need to improve your endurance, performance, or recovery. Use compression socks if you walk, ski, bike, or spend a lot of time on your feet.
The compression socks reduce fluid accumulation in the lower extremities by increasing blood flow to the legs and feet and increasing tissue oxygen saturation. Furthermore, improved saturation enhances oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles and decreases muscle recovery time. Your muscles may also be supported structurally when compressed, and vibrations from impacts may be reduced. You may be at lower risk of injury and muscle fatigue with intense activities if you have added support and reduced impact vibration.
A circulatory system includes your heart, arteries, and veins. As blood passes through your arteries and returns to your heart through veins, your heart pumps it throughout your body.
Your arteries are composed of natural elastic fibers that help to push blood from your heart to your tissues quickly. The veins are less flexible than arteries, and blood returns to the heart through muscle compression. In response to muscle contraction, your veins are squeezed, re-directing blood to your heart.
Compression socks basics
There are many online retailers and pharmacies where compression socks can be bought. You may need a prescription from your doctor and a professional fitting for the compression sock you select to achieve optimal results.
Compression socks or stockings come in three main types
Graduated compression stockings:
A compression stocking of this type offers the strongest compression at the ankle and gradually decreases as it reaches the knee. The doctor may recommend this type if you have peripheral edema or orthostatic hypotension. Most graduated compression stockings require the prescription of a physician and professional fitting.
Anti-embolism stockings:
Not mobile people will also benefit from this type of stocking, which has graduated compression from the ankle upwards. By wearing anti-embolism stockings, you can reduce the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. Additionally, doctors usually prescribe anti-embolism stockings and fit them professionally.
Nonmedical support hosiery:
Compression stockings of this type are available at most pharmacies without a prescription. Compression hosiery can relieve tired, achy legs by providing the same level of compression throughout.
How Compression Socks Work
The socks assist the heart in pumping blood back to it. Better circulation in your lower extremities helps you maintain a proper fluid balance and reduce swelling in your legs and ankles. As a result of improved circulation, people with knee and ankle pain are less likely to experience heavy, achy pains after being on their feet all day. Several studies have shown that increased blood and lymph circulation reduces muscle soreness and perceived fatigue in muscles.
In all compression sleeves, a significant increase in tissue oxygen saturation was observed, and the highest compression pressures were associated with the most effective increases.
Why Compression Socks Are Beneficial for Tissue Oxygen Saturation: