Compression socks have gained popularity in recent years, with good reason. These specialized socks provide a range of benefits that can help to improve your well-being. This is especially true with athletes, travelers, and those with specific medical conditions. While they often look like typical socks, they are designed to provide consistent pressure to the feet and legs, which helps increase circulation and reduce swelling and discomfort. There are so many additional benefits to these socks, so let’s explore some of those here:
Improved Blood Circulation
One of the primary benefits of compression socks is their ability to improve blood circulation. The graduated compression design helps to stimulate blood flow by applying pressure, preventing blood from pooling in the legs and feet. This improvement in venous blood flow helps carry more blood to the heart. This also increases oxygen and nutrient supply to the muscles, creating healthier, happier feet.
Reduced Swelling in the Feet & Ankles
Swelling, also called edema, especially in the ankles and feet, can be incredibly uncomfortable and even cause shoes and clothes to not fit well. This is often a result of long periods of standing or sitting as well as certain medical conditions. Compression socks work to support the veins and increase the blood flow, which helps to reduce fluid retention in the legs and feet.
Minimized risk of varicose veins
The veins in the lower extremities work hard to fight against gravity and send blood flowing back up to the heart. Compression socks help support these veins using maintained pressure, which over time can help prevent painful varicose veins.
Enhanced athletic performance and recovery
Compression socks aren’t just for medical reasons, they can also help with athletic performance. Athletes will often wear compression socks during their workouts and their recovery periods to help improve oxygen delivery to muscles during the workout and reduce the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles in recovery. This can help prevent muscle soreness and aid in recovery after a strenuous workout. By providing support to the muscles, compression socks can help athletes improve their endurance and recovery times.
Support during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume increases; however, the blood flow from the legs to the pelvis actually decreases. This can lead to a lot of swelling in the lower legs and feet, which can be extremely uncomfortable. It can also cause problems like varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Compression socks can help in alleviating these circulatory issues by providing support to the veins to help the blood keep flowing and not pool in the lower legs and feet.
Reduced risk of blood clots
Just as in pregnancy, clots in the bloodstream can be quite concerning. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can happen not only in pregnancy but also post-surgery patients, obese people and even long-distance travellers. Blood clots form when the blood is stopped or slowed, which is often associated with prolonged periods of sitting, long surgeries and traveling by air. By promoting circulation, compression socks can help prevent the formation of blood clots.
Comfort for long periods or standing or sitting
Jobs that require long periods of sitting or standing, like nurses and office workers, can benefit from the use of compression socks. These specialized socks help alleviate the discomfort associated with swollen legs, ankles and feet, which can make it easier to get through long shifts in relative comfort.
Compression socks offer a variety of benefits that can help improve daily life for everyone from an athlete to an office worker. Improving the circulation can help prevent injury and medical issues, both now and for the future, making these socks a worthwhile investment in well-being. *We recommend consulting with a healthcare professional to determine the right compression level before using compression socks.