What are the Benefits of Compression Socks?

What are the benefits of compression socks and who do they benefit? For many, the sensation of swollen or throbbing legs can be uncomfortable or even extremely painful. Some experience symptoms during sitting while traveling while others endure it daily. Luckily, therapeutic compression socks help alleviate these symptoms.

Compression therapy is the use of compression socks/stockings over a period of time. These stockings squeeze the leg and allow the valves to be closer together and function properly. This helps the blood flow easier and your legs respond accordingly with less swelling, fatigue, discomfort, pain, heaviness, throbbing, and cramping. While compression socks can treat serious medical conditions, they can also treat a variety of leg complaints without a prescription, including:

Tired, aching heavy feeling legs Ankle or Leg Swelling Varicose Veins	Venous Insufficiency Post-thrombotic syndrome Poor Circulation	Healed venous ulcer Active venous ulcer Lympedema

Compression socks can improve circulation and fight swelling and discomfort.

Good circulation is one of the most important parts of your health. Problems with blood flow can lead to uncomfortable aches and pains, and in some situations, they can even be dangerous. While it might seem harmless, sitting in one position for long periods of time can prevent blood from flowing the way it should, but compression socks might offer a simple solution. There are many benefits of compression socks, which are pretty much exactly what they sound like. By providing consistent pressure along with leg movement, they encourage blood to flow upward from your ankles through the deep veins in your legs and back toward your heart.

Some varieties are called graduated compression socks, meaning there’s more pressure at the ankles and it decreases further up the leg. This simple technology can help fight swelling and discomfort, and may also reduce the risk of developing DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a clot that forms in the deep veins. The danger of DVT is that a clot could break off, travel through your body, and block blood flow in one of the arteries to your lungs, causing a potentially fatal condition called a pulmonary embolism. Whether you’re at high risk for DVT or just feel like your legs are a bit achy and heavy, compression socks might help.

The benefits of compression socks apply to a wide range of conditions, such as:

• Boosting circulation in the legs
• Decreasing swelling in the legs and ankles
• Improving lymphatic drainage
• Managing orthostatic hypotension, or low blood pressure when you stand up after a period of sitting down
• Preventing blood from pooling in the leg veins
• Preventing deep vein thrombosis in the legs
• Preventing venous ulcers
• Reducing pain related to varicose veins
• Reversing venous hypertension

Whatever the reason may be for you to try compression therapy, SMOOTHTOE® has something for you. For anyone experiencing painful swelling in their legs and feet due to sitting or standing all day at work, we have work-wear socks (15-20 mmHg crew socks or knee-highs.) Those who experience more serious swelling can benefit from our 20-30 mmHg knee-high graduated compression socks, registered with the FDA as a Class 1 medical device.

For professional athletes or those who lead an active lifestyle, our VO2fx line of socks helps enhance performance and reduce recovery time. Travel socks (15-20 mmHg knee-highs) are geared toward those who spend a significant amount of time traveling, and we have slim-line dress socks (15-20 mmHg knee-highs) for those who spend their workdays in dress shoes and need a little compression therapy while keeping the look professional.

One thing to keep in mind about compression therapy is that while it helps relieve symptoms, it is not a true cure for any of these leg ailments. Support stockings are a temporary measure that will not fix a chronic, physical problem. However, that doesn’t mean you need to have a serious medical issue to benefit from using compression socks. Compression socks can be used for anyone who experiences temporary swelling and discomfort in their feet and legs. Women who are pregnant and those who experience swelling in their legs during extended trips (like air travel or long car rides) can find relief with the help of compression socks.

Shop our wide range of compression socks today!