How Tight Should Compression Socks Be and What Do They Do?
Attention, sock fans! Time for a little lesson in compression. But please no stressing for this session. We promise, we’ll keep it light! (Sorry for the mediocre rapping. Sometimes you just feel it, you know?)
In the past, there weren’t a lot of stylish options for compression socks available on the market, as they were seen as strictly medical and functional rather than a fashion accessory. Now that there are so many more styles of cute compression socks out there than even just a few years ago, odds are you might have been hearing about them more frequently.
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly this particular type of sock does, and how tight they should be around your calves, you’re in the right place! Think of these next few paragraphs as your own personal crash course in compression socks.
Check Out Our Collection of Cute Compression Sockshow tight should compression socks be?
While compression socks are meant to, well, compress your feet, ankles and calves, you certainly don’t want them to be so tight that you’re in pain. If you’ve ever let an elastic hair tie roll up to your forearm for too long, you might be familiar with what it’s like to have something be unpleasantly tight around your skin.
Properly fitting compression socks will feel snug and as though your legs are supported, but they absolutely should not:
- Make you lose feeling in your legs or toes, or give you “pins and needles.”
- Leave deep impressions or red markings on your legs after you’ve taken them off for the day (like that tight hair tie!).
- Cause any sort of discoloration of your legs or feet.
All of the above are signs your compression socks are much too tight and are probably doing more harm than good. When shopping for compression socks and any type of fun knee high socks for that matter, it’s important to look at the amount of pressure the socks provide.
Browse Our Assortment of Fun Knee High SocksCompression levels normally range from mild (8-15 mmHg) to firm (20-30 mmHg), with options offering very high firmness available at pharmacies by recommendation from a doctor. If you’re new to compression socks, you’ll probably be most comfortable in styles that offer mild to moderate compression. That’s what we sell here.
what do compression socks do?
- They can help reduce fatigue. Compression socks are known to promote blood circulation throughout the body by helping oxygenated blood flow through the arteries and deoxygenated blood flow back to the heart more easily and quickly. This helps to keep your feet and legs from getting tired, while giving your whole body the nourishment it needs to be able to take on each day with energy.
- They minimize swelling. Especially for people who are in professions where they have to be on their feet a lot, the stress placed on the body from standing for long periods of time can cause fluid to build up in the legs and feet, which is a recipe for unpleasant swelling. Compression socks apply pressure to the legs in a way that helps to minimize fluid buildup and swelling.
- They can assist with muscle recovery. The faster your blood pumps through your body with proper circulation, the faster it can heal. Students have indicated compression socks' effect on marathon running recovery, noting they can help improve functional recovery in the legs. This is because the circulation improvements that take place while wearing compression socks take place even while your body is resting, and why you often see elite athletes making use of compression garments to aid in their muscle recovery. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “why do nurses wear compression socks?” well, that’s because medical professionals are kind of like elite athletes, too. The long hours of standing and exerting physical energy on a shift can be just as draining as what a ballplayer experiences during a big game.
- They relieve symptoms of varicose veins. Varicose veins occur when blood pools in the veins instead of smoothly flowing back up to the heart. If the valves in your veins are constantly fighting against gravity, the blood can build up, putting pressure on the vein that causes it to swell and twist. Knee high compression socks are especially useful in soothing the symptoms of varicose veins since they help push the blood in the veins back up to the heart.
fashionable and functional, too
The earlier versions of compression socks were more clinical-looking, but nowadays there are so many cute compression socks available. We’re proud to have styles that offer all the functional benefits of compression wear, while still looking fun and colorful. Whether you opt for a flirty floral, some punny sayings or another fun print, compression socks have the added benefit of starting conversations and making people smile!
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