

As a helpful visual, we often tell our customers about the “garden hose effect.” If you were to turn on a garden hose and place your thumb on top of the nozzle, you would get a tight, concentrated spray of water. Why do compression socks have to be tight or apply pressure to work? Well, the pressure from the sock reduces the diameter of major vein walls and, as a result, increases the volume and velocity of blood flow. This circulation boost has a variety of health benefits backed by numerous studies and medical research (see footnotes).

The leg veins receive a boost, pushing blood back to your heart. Therefore, the arteries that take oxygen-rich blood to your muscles and legs can relax, so blood circulates more freely. The pressure applied to the legs can help your blood vessels work more efficiently.

What are uniform compression socks?Īthletes often wear uniform compression socks to support blood flow to muscles during workouts, although they are not as effective in promoting healthy blood circulation. More blood pumping means more energized legs and less pain and swelling of the feet. They also help the blood in your leg travel back up to your heart against the force of gravity by applying pressure to vein walls from the outside. Graduated compression socks fit the tightest around the ankle and provide a high-to-low gradient of pressure that travels up the length of the calf. Graduated compression socks are the most effective type of compression sock used to boost circulation. The gentle pressure from compression socks promotes faster muscle recovery, so compression therapy works for everyone, everyday. But you don’t need to have existing health problems to benefit from compression therapy. When you assist your veins in circulating blood, you decrease the likelihood of painful swelling, blood clots, and varicose and spider veins.Ĭompression therapy has been used by doctors, nurses, clinicians, and physical therapists for over 50 years to improve common circulatory issues.

Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve your recovery after a workout or a person who stands for long periods at work, compression socks can help you feel your best. Most adults can benefit from more efficient circulation. However, graduated compression is more effective at improving circulation and well-being, whether you’re working at a desk from 9-to-5, traveling on long flights, recovering from a workout, or hiking through the Dolomites. Uniform compression provides constant pressure throughout the length of the sock. Graduated compression provides more pressure around your ankle and gradually gets looser as the sock moves up your leg. There are two main types of compression socks, graduated and uniform. Unlike casual or dress socks, compression socks are designed to gently squeeze your legs to promote blood flow from your legs and feet back towards your heart. Why wear ordinary socks when you can wear socks with benefits? What are compression socks? One of the easiest ways to improve blood circulation is by trading regular socks for compression socks. Strong, healthy veins help us to move, heal, breathe, digest food, and think clearly. Promoting healthy blood circulation is one of the most important steps we can take to feel our best every day.
