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Lots of people know what compression socks are – or kind of what they are.
They may know that they’re a type of tight-fitting sock that’s supposed to keep your feet from swelling and hurting and that people recovering from surgery wear them. People who work on their feet, women who are pregnant and travelers wear them too.
That’s true, but there’s a lot more to compression socks and there are quite a few questions that people commonly ask about them.
We’re going to answer 5 of the most common questions on things you didn’t know about compression socks right now.
1. Can You Wear Compression Socks At Night?
Absolutely. In fact, many podiatrists recommend wearing compression socks throughout the day to head off pain and swelling before it starts. You can also wear them to bed and sleep in them to continue getting the benefits of gentle compression.
2. Do Compression Socks Prevent Varicose Veins?
Everybody wants to know – yes and no, sorry no solid answer. There’s inconclusive evidence that it actually prevents varicose veins completely.
However, compression socks support the veins of your feet and legs helping to increase blood flow. This helps to keep your legs stay healthier and may have some preventative properties.
3. Are Compression Socks Good For Sore And Swollen Feet?
Yes. In fact, that’s the main thing compression socks are known for. Many people who work on their feet wear compression socks to help with fatigue, pain, and swelling.
Wearing compression socks at night can help alleviate swelling and soreness while you sleep.
4. What Are The Benefits Of Wearing Compression Socks?
Wearing compression socks promotes healthy blood flow, supports the veins, prevents swelling, and keeps blood from pooling in the lower extremities.
They also help prevent blood clots, aid athletic performance, help recovery, and may help with varicose veins (as stated above).
5. Can Wearing Compression Socks Be Harmful?
Not really. A healthy person only has to worry about broken or irritated skin from wearing them incorrectly or for too long. People with health problems like diabetes since they’re susceptible to skin ulcers.
Older people need to also be careful wearing compression socks since their skin may be thinner, more sensitive, and easier to break. You should always take care to put on your compression socks correctly and carefully.
Here Are A Couple of Bonus FAQs For You:
What Strength Of Compression Socks Should I Buy?
The strength, or tightness, of compression socks, refers to how much pressure it exerts on your feet and legs. It’s measured just like blood pressure, in millimeters of mercury or mmHg.
Here are the three strengths, their numbers, and what they’re usually worn for:
- Light 8 – 15 mmHg – good for everyday wear or work
- Medium 15 – 20 mmHg – many people consider this the “sweet spot” for compression socks. These are good for people who work on their feet, athletes, and runners.
- High 20 – 30 mmHg – this is medical grade and worn by people recovering from surgery, those with health conditions like diabetes or heart disease that affect circulation in the lower extremities. However, many workers and athletes will also wear compression socks in this range.
What is the best mmHg of compression stockings for nurses? Find out here.
When Should You Wear Compression Socks?
If you want to ward off foot pain and stop it before it starts, you should wear compression socks every day. There’s nothing wrong with wearing light compression socks as an everyday sock.
- If you’re going to be working a long shift on your feet, you definitely want to be wearing a medium to high compression sock.
- Taking part in any athletic activity whether it’s a team sport, long-distance run or trail hike is the perfect time for a medium to high compression sock.
- Women who are pregnant should wear compression socks to prevent swelling
- Travelers taking long flights should wear compression socks to help prevent blood clots
- People with health conditions that affect circulation should wear them
What Are The Best Compression Socks?
There are lots of great brands out there – so which is the best? The best compression sock is the one that’s right for your needs.
Ask yourself what you’re wearing compression socks for. How long you need to wear them while taking into consideration any health issues you may have.
That said, here are some of the best brands with the top ratings:
I hope we answered any questions you may have had about compression socks and gave you some good brands you can check out.
Worried that compression socks may ruin your style, we got you covered as we have curated a list of compression socks with cute and colorful designs.
Just get yourself a pair or two of compression socks. Try them out for a week. Chances are you’ll end up buying more and be a compression socks convert.