Do compression socks help?
Compression socks or stockings can be found on the legs of a wide swath of the population, from flight travellers, runners, and nurses to pregnant women, people recovering from surgery, and people otherwise at risk for blood clots in their legs.
They make our legs feel refreshed and energized, almost like they’re getting a mini-massage. How do they do it? By increasing the blood flow from our legs to our heart and raising our blood oxygen level.
Compression socks are fully graduated, meaning they start out with a greater amount of compression at the ankle and gradually get looser up the calf. This graduation is meant to help promote blood flow back towards the heart and thus help promote faster recovery.
But compression socks do more than just make our legs feel great. They minimize leg pain and cramping and reduce swelling in our ankles and feet. Wearing compression socks can also help keep our legs healthy, by delaying the onset of varicose and spider veins. Most importantly, they can help prevent a DVT (deep vein thrombosis)— a life-threatening blood clot that can show up in our legs.
If you struggle with lower leg pain or have a hard time recovering from activity, they could be worth a try!
Lowell Jordan
Certified Pedorthist
Viva Care Medical Clinic – Burnaby