What are Compression Stockings?

How to Choose the Right Compression Stockings?

Socks/Stockings may perform more than protect your feet and legs. Specialized socks can help alleviate and/or prevent health conditions. Compression socks or compression stockings refer to specialized socks that apply gentle pressure to your legs and ankles. Improving blood flow from your legs to your heart through these socks can help you stay healthy.

What Are Compression Stockings?

Compression stockings are specially made, snug-fitting, stretchy socks that gently squeeze your leg. 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.

There are three main types of compression socks or stockings:

• Graduated compression stockings: Compression stockings with this compression are most potent at the ankle and diminish toward the knee. If you have peripheral edema or orthostatic hypotension, your doctor may have you specifically use this type. In fact, graduated compression stockings typically require a doctor's prescription and professional fitting.
• Anti-embolism stockings: This is referred to as a breech-loading stocking that features graduated compression that decreases from the ankle upwards, but it's used generally by people who are not mobility challenged. Anti-Embolism Stockings can help reduce the chances of developing deep-vein thrombosis, according to Dr. Mohan. Anti-Embolism Stockings generally need to be prescribed by a physician and professionally fitted.
• Nonmedical support hosiery: Compression stocking does not need a prescription and can be obtained at pharmacies. It is like a support hose for your legs, offering compression throughout the stocking and soothing tired, aching muscles.

Compression Level

Compression level, measured on the scale of mercury, indicates the amount of relief, treatment, or management that is provided by pressure. For example, anti-embolism stockings provide pressure at 15 to 20 mmHg. The typical medical recommendation for compression stockings is 20 to 30 mm Hg. The reaction zone starts at 20 to 30 mm Hg and is known as medical-class stockings. The least expensive pressure levels are typically found in the lowest boundaries between 20 and 30 mm Hg. At the same time, the higher the pressure level, the pricier the stockings.

Sizing

Stockings are available in sizes to accommodate the needs of individual patients. There are knee-high socks, thigh-high stockings, thigh-high with waist attachment, thigh-high with aid, pantyhose, and pregnancy hosiery to select from. Consult your physician to receive the appropriate selections for you. Both of these parameters are specifically important for measuring accurate fittings. When a patient is comfortable and following the surgeon's instructions, healing is more likely to occur. When fittings are not done correctly, the procedure may not be properly executed. Below is a series of sizing charts detailing important volume measurements.

Stocking Features

Stocking features improve patient comfort, hygiene, dependability, and infection control. Stockings may provide open or closed toe, no foot, long sleeves with a gauntlet or gauntlet, opaque or sheer, silver additives, padding, reinforced heels or toes, retaining bands, or fashion prints. Each feature provides an additional function or capability to make the stocking more appealing or pleasurable.

• Closed-Toe
• Open-Toe
• No Foot
• Padded Foot
• Reinforced-Hell/Toe
• Opaque
• Shear

What Do Compression Stockings Do?

The tightness of these stockings on your thighs encourages your veins to take in oxygen and blood for your muscles. The blood vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood to your muscles can open up, so your blood flows easily. The veins pumped blood back to your heart. Compression stockings can keep your legs from becoming tired and aching. They can also help reduce inflammation in your feet and ankles and also help prevent and treat spider and varicose veins. They can also help stop or prevent dizziness when you stand up.

Compression socks can be useful for other situations, too:

1. Athletes sometimes wear compression socks on their arms or hands to help improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery while they exercise, practice, or compete in sports. Some athletes also wear compression wraps to help them recover after they workout.
2. A wheelchair-bound individual can benefit from compression stockings for better circulation and reduced swelling in the legs.
3. Pregnant women who are susceptible to swelling in their legs, feet, or ankles may wish to wear compression stockings to minimize the likelihood of swelling. Women who are most susceptible to swelling make the greatest improvement when they apply compression stockings in the mornings as a preventative measure versus after they have developed swelling.
4. Airplane passengers or crew members who are on long or frequent flights might benefit from wearing compression socks as a means of enhancing circulation and reducing the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or blood clots.
5. For people who stand all day, compression socks can help relieve pain and fatigue by improving blood circulation and oxygenation in their legs and feet.

Pro Therapy Supplies offers a wide range of compression wear. You can find leg compression sleeves, tights, shorts, and compression socks online. Talk with your physician to decide which type of compression wear is best for you. Next, visit our easy-to-use website to find low prices on compression apparel that can be used again and again. Or you may also call us at 770-441-9808 for assistance.