Compression socks apply gentle, graduated pressure to the lower legs and feet. This pressure supports your body in many ways, including maintaining a healthy blood flow, supporting muscle recovery, and supporting healthy oxygen circulation.
They fit snuggly and comfortably, made with a durable fabric that is supportive and flexible. This tightness allows the many wellness benefits of compression socks but can also make them difficult to put on if you have not done so before.
Let’s discuss compression socks, their benefits, and how to put them on properly and easily.
What Are Compression Socks?
Compression socks use graduated pressure technology to provide maximum support and comfort. The pressure of the sock provides extra support to your blood vessels as they push blood and oxygen up from your feet to your heart.
The gentle support of compression socks also aids in stabilizing joints and muscles, especially while running. The graduated pressure technology of compression socks supports healthy blood flow, offering benefits to many necessary functions.
It can soothe soreness from running or being on your feet for long periods. Athletes, nurses, and flight attendants often wear compression socks as they spend long periods on their feet or exercising.
But, the comfort and wellness benefits of compression socks are not limited to these fields; in fact, anyone can enjoy them.
The Benefits of Compression Socks
Compression socks are beneficial in creating balanced support for both activity and rest. Whether you are looking for support in blood flow, swelling, or discomfort, compression socks can make a difference in your recovery.
The additional support of compression socks provides a comfortable feel that can fight against fatigue and aches. Compression socks can bring soothing relief to your feet and legs while also providing a wide variety of wellness benefits.
Just a few of the many benefits that compression socks can provide include:
- Support blood flow. Combatting the pull of gravity towards the feet, the graduated pressure technology supports your blood vessels in circulation. Strong blood flow can ease symptoms of cramping, soreness, and swelling.
- Facilitate oxygen circulation. Oxygen travels through your body by your blood vessels and moves more readily when your blood flow is supported. With a strong circulation of oxygen into your muscle tissue, you can maintain muscle recovery, muscle growth, and healing.
- Soothe swelling in feet and ankles. Gradual compression in the feet, ankles, and legs soothes natural fluid buildup. By supporting a balanced movement of fluids in your body, compression socks soothe symptoms of swelling in the feet and ankles.
- Provide support to muscles and joints. The additional support provided by the pressure of the socks gives stability to your muscles and joints, especially when running or on your feet for long periods of time.
- Maintain comfort. Gentle pressure with a comfortable, breathable material can create maximum comfort for aching legs and feet.
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Ease aches and discomfort. Graduated pressure technology can help ease symptoms often associated with varicose veins or venous deficiency in leg veins.
When Should I Wear Compression Socks?
Compression socks can be worn whenever you want extra comfort and support for your feet and legs. The gentle compression provides versatile wellness benefits that can soothe many common aches and blood flow issues.
It is most common and recommended to put compression socks on first thing in the morning, as this is when your feet and legs are least likely to be swollen. That said, you can wear compression socks whenever it makes the most sense for you — first thing in the morning, right before a run, or after a long day at work.
Compression socks are most effective when worn during an activity in which your feet are below your heart. This includes exercising, standing at work, taking a flight, or walking.
When your feet are below your heart, blood and oxygen must fight against gravity to circulate back up to your heart. Compression socks support your blood vessels in preventing fluid accumulation and poor blood circulation associated with being on your feet.
That said, compression socks can be worn anytime, including while resting. So long as you are changing them frequently, you can wear compression socks all day and night as desired.
To achieve maximum benefit from your compression socks, consider wearing them while:
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Exercising: Compression socks support your leg muscles and joints while working out and maintain healthy oxygen circulation, supporting muscle growth and recovery.
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At work: Graduated compression technology can help soothe swelling, discomfort, and joint aches associated with being on your feet for long periods.
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On a long flight: Sitting in one position for a long time can lead to decreased blood flow, which increases the risk of blood clots. Compression socks support blood vessels in naturally circulating blood strongly.
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Resting and recovering: Compression socks can be worn when lounging or resting for additional comfort and assistance with muscle recovery.
Putting On Compression Socks
Putting on compression socks for the first time doesn’t need to be confusing or difficult. With the right method, you can have your compression socks on in no time and be ready for the day.
If you are new to compression garments, it is recommended to try this method first with a low- to mid-grade pressure pair of socks before moving up to medical-grade compression socks. It is important that you do not experience any pinching or restriction to circulation while wearing your compression garments. If you do, consider going up a size or down a pressure level.
How you put on compression socks may be different for different styles. For example, if you wear ankle compression socks, you can put them on just like your normal socks — by rolling them up and over your feet.
But the higher the sock, the harder it may be to pull them up comfortably and correctly.
How Do I Properly Put on Compression Socks?
Before you put on your compression socks, ensure you are seated in a comfortable position where you can easily reach your feet.
Follow the following steps to put on your compression socks:
- Hold your sock with the heel facing up
- Stick your hand, palm-side up, into the sock until your thumb reaches the heel.
- Grab the sock from the inside by closing your hand and flip your hand so the heel is now facing away from you.
- Pull the leg of the sock over your hand so it is inside out. Keep the foot of your sock right-side out.
- Gently pull the foot of your sock over your foot. Make sure the sock fits comfortably over your toes and heel.
- Grab hold of the elastic top of the sock and pull the leg of the sock up and over your leg.
- Smooth out any folds or bunches.
- Enjoy advanced support and comfort!
If you are having trouble pulling the compression garments up and over the legs, try using a bit of cornstarch on your legs to reduce moisture and friction. If you are having trouble gripping your socks, try wearing plastic gloves while putting on your socks. With this method, getting your compression socks on should be quick and easy.
Tips for Wearing Compression Socks
Now that you have your compression socks on, you can enjoy the diverse array of wellness benefits they provide. To achieve maximum comfort, ensure your compression socks are on properly and fit well.
Avoid bunching or folding your compression socks. Compression socks should fit snugly and closely to your leg for maximum effectiveness and comfort. Folding over the tops of your compression socks may provide unnecessary tightness at the top of the sock, potentially obstructing blood flow.
If you experience any numbness or discomfort while wearing compression socks, take them off. Compression garments aim to provide additional support and comfort; you should never feel additional discomfort from wearing them. If you experience discomfort, consider a different size or pressure level to better meet your needs.
Though you can wear your compression socks any time, changing them frequently and washing them in between uses is important. Wash gently with mild soap and warm water.
If you find you wear them often, it is recommended that you have multiple pairs of compression socks. This way, you can wash them between wears and have another pair ready to go.
Enjoy the Benefits of Compression Socks
With the right pair of compression socks, you can enjoy a new level of comfort for your legs and feet. With the many wellness benefits associated with their use, they could just be the answer you are looking for to address your aches and discomfort.
Whether you work long shifts, are an athlete, or are looking for additional comfort and recovery, compression socks can help.
Sources:
Benefits of Compression Socks for Runners | The Manual
Applying antiembolic stockings and sequential compression devices: Clinical skills notes | Osmosis