5 reasons to use compression socks

If you are over the age of 40, or have spent any time dealing with conditions that cause swelling in the legs or feet, or are involved in some kind of sport or athletic activity, then you probably have at least heard of compression socks and stockings. Yet, many are hesitant to try or buy compression socks because they wonder if they really work or think that it’s just for older people who don’t get around very well. In truth, nothing could be further from the truth. Compression socks and stocking can have some significant benefits to your life. Here are 5 reasons to use compression socks.

First, let’s get into the science of how compression socks and stockings work. Your feet and legs are the lowest part of your body and closest to the ground. Because of gravity, it can be hard for the blood to travel back up. The stockings, sometimes referred to as pressure stockings, gently squeeze your legs in a way that helps promote blood flow from the legs back toward the heart. They are designed to provide the strongest pressure around your ankle, with decreasing pressure as the stocking goes up the leg.

Do you work at a place that requires you to sit or stand for long periods of time? Because of gravity and inactivity, the blood can pool in your legs, causing your legs to swell, cramp and even cause dangerous blood clots that can travel and cause all sorts of health issues. Compression socks increase the blood flow back to your heart from your legs, decreasing the swelling and other issues caused by sitting or standing to long.

If you are a frequent flyer, then you are sitting down frequently and often for long periods of time. As mentioned above, long periods of sitting can be hazardous to your legs and overall health. Compression socks and stockings are perfect for those whose work or lifestyle requires them to travel including frequent business trips, pilots, and flight attendants to name a few. Compression socks can help provide the circulation your legs need while sitting for long or frequent flight periods.

There are several health conditions that can cause your legs and feet to swell. Venous stasis is one such condition. Venous stasis is a condition of slow blood flow in the veins, usually of the legs. Venous stasis or ulcer is a risk factor for forming blood clots in veins. It is caused by malfunctioning venous valves causing pressure in the veins to increase. Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT is another such condition. DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Compression socks can limit the amount of swelling that occurs, by helping to return fluid and blood back to the heart. In the case of DVT, compression socks can be used as a prevention method because pressure from the compression stops blood from pooling and clotting.

In many cases of operations, the recovery time can have a person sitting or inactive for long periods of time. This again can be hazardous to your health, as well as cause pain and discomfort. In these cases, doctors and therapists will often recommend compression socks to keep the blood flowing freely in your legs and feet during long periods of inactivity.

If you are a runner, you have probably felt the leg cramps of lactic acid buildup in your leg muscles, especially on long runs. If you run anything from 5k’s to ultras the socks can reduce lactate concentration in the legs and in turn, lessens the chance of leg cramps. The socks are designed to be extra comfortable and won’t bunch up on a run. After training runs and races, compression socks circulate the blood, reduce the amount of soreness, and help runners recover faster.

There are those that see the benefits of compression socks but have yet to try them because they remember their grandma’s beige compression stocking and think that compression socks are unappealing. Medical supply stores, like Bayshore Medical Supply in Pasadena TX, carry a wide variety of today’s compression socks and stockings that come in all sorts of different colors and textures and are made to go with just about any outfit.

Bayshore Medical Supply is located at 4205 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77504. We carry JOBST’s and SIGVARIS men’s and women’s compression socks and stockings in various colors and styles. Our Sigvaris line that has a silicone band at the top to prevent them from rolling down and cutting off circulation at the knee, so they never dig into the leg. If you’re considering compression socks and have questions, come in or call 713-472-8585 and we will be happy to help!