The 10 Benefits of Compression Socks to Help Improve Your Daily Life

What are compression socks?

Compression socks are specialised hosiery or garments designed to fit tightly or properly around your lower legs or calf, ankles, and feet. They provide your legs and feet with graduated pressure, helping promote blood flow throughout your legs. Compression socks are usually designed with elastic fibres, that apply gentle pressure to the veins, arteries, and muscles. The pressure provided by compression socks generally decreases upward, helping prevent the accumulation of fluid and blood in the lower legs. Consequently, they help improve blood circulation in the entire body.

Compression socks are designed in different shapes, sizes, and designs to meet the specific requirements of users. For example, they come with knee-high, thigh-high, and full-length stockings.

Types  of compression socks

Compression socks are of different types and basically, they are classified based on their compression levels. The following are the common types of compression socks:

1.         Graduated compression socks

It is one of the most common types of compression socks. These socks come with the strongest compression or pressure at the feet or ankles, which gradually decreases upwards. Remember that graduated compression socks require proper fitting or doctor’s prescriptions to use. These socks are usually recommended to reduce pain, swelling, and the chances of blood clots.

2.         Anti-embolism compression socks

Anti-embolism compression socks are similar to graduated compression socks in offering strong pressure at the ankles that decreases upwards the legs. However, these socks are specifically designed for people who are immobile. These compression socks are best at reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Similar to graduated compression socks, anti-embolism compression socks also require professional fitting and doctor’s prescriptions.

3.         Medical compression socks

These compression socks are recommended by healthcare professionals to deal with various circulation problems. For example, medical compression socks help manage the symptoms of venous insufficiency, varicose veins, lymphedema, and other serious circulation problems. To deal with specific symptoms, medical compression socks come with different compression and lengths.

4.         Atheltic compression socks

Athletic compression socks are specifically designed for athletes or other sportspeople who regularly involve in sports activities and require repetitive movements of their feet, calves, or legs. These compression socks help reduce soreness and muscle fatigue. As well as this, they increase oxygen delivery and improve blood flow in the legs. Thus, they help athletes to perform well throughout their sessions.

5.         Travel compression socks

Travel compression socks are specifically designed for people involved in long-time or regular travelling. Regular travelling or long-term travelling may cause blood circulation problems in the lower legs. Poor blood circulation may lead to serious problems, such as varicose veins, spider veins, or DVT. Wearing travel compression socks helps improve circulation during travelling.

How do Compression Socks help Improve your Daily Life?

Compression socks can help you in a variety of ways, improving your lifestyle or preventing circulation problems. Let’s have a look at the most prominent benefits of compression socks:

1.         Compression socks help improve blood circulation

Compression socks work to push more blood into your legs than normal. It helps improve blood circulation. Improved blood circulation is best at filtering out toxins and processing nutrients, helping your body to perform a better job. It simply means compression socks keep your legs ready for walking, running, and other intense activities.

2.         Compression socks help reduce pain and swelling

Compression socks are best at providing enough pressure to your feet and ankles, helping reduce pain and swelling. Swelling occurs when fluid builds up in your tissues or muscles and makes your muscles feel heavy and tight. On the other hand, pain comes due to inflammation caused by overuse or injuries. Compression socks may also help you prevent both during sports or jobs.

3.         Compression socks help prevent the risk of blood clots

Sitting or standing for a prolonged time may cause intense pressure on your veins, causing blood clots. The risk is high among people involved in long hours of travelling and occupational professionals stand for hours. Compression socks help reduce extra pressure on the veins by improving blood circulation. Thus, they are best at reducing the risk of blood clots.

4.         Compression socks help make lymphatic drainage better

As they boost blood circulation, compression socks also help with the lymphatic system. It helps your body in getting rid of waste and toxin products quickly.

5.         Compression socks help promote healing after injury or surgery

As compression socks help improve blood circulation, they help speed up recovery following a leg injury. Many healthcare professionals also recommend wearing compression socks following surgery, as they help promote healing.

6.         Compression socks help with long exercise sessions

During exercises, sometimes, your legs become swollen. It makes your muscles difficult to get oxygenated blood. Thus, it results in muscle fatigue more quickly. Compression socks decrease muscle workload and increase blood circulation, reducing swelling. So, you can enjoy a long time on your feet without experiencing fatigue in your leg muscles.

7.         Compression socks help treat venous diseases

The increased pressure or blood circulation in your legs compresses the leg veins. It helps blood to move back towards the heart smoothly. Thus, it helps reduce the chances of blood clotting. Consequently, the risk of developing venous diseases, such as varicose veins or DVT is very less.

8.         Compression socks help perform well

Compression socks also help prevent the building up of lactic acid in your leg muscles by increasing blood flow and decreasing swelling around joints or tendons. Thus, they help you perform well without facing any injury throughout your sports or job sessions.

9.         Compression socks help improve sleep

As compression socks help increase blood circulation, they help improve sleep quality when wearing them at night.

10.       Compression socks help with pregnancy

During pregnancy, women experience more pressure on their leg veins, making them susceptible to blood clots. Severe conditions may lead to DVT or other circulation-related problems. Compression socks help improve blood circulation, preventing blood to pool or clotting.

Conclusion

So, this is a detailed discussion of what compression socks are, their types, and the possible benefits of compression socks. Indeed compression socks help you in many ways. But, remember that they help only when to use them properly. First of all, you need to ensure whether you should wear compression socks or not. If recommended then you must wear the right product according to your needs. It is advisable to always wear compression socks under the guidance of your GP or healthcare professionals.