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The socks are among the largest women’s leg friends. In fact, they act as a shield on the coldest days and enrich the outfit by giving an extra touch of femininity.
In addition, they can also be of great support when the legs have to bear the weight of the body for many hours or even in the presence of widespread pathologies and problems such asvenous insufficiency. In these cases we speak of graduated compression stockings and, as you can imagine, they have one therapeutic function rather than aesthetics.
What are
The legs are one of the main engines of our body because they allow us to walk, run, and therefore to move from one place to another. And all this while always supporting the weight of the body. However, we know very well that sometimes you can stand for a long time, for example for a long walk or for work reasons.
In the long run, however, our legs can get tired and it is therefore more likely the appearance of circulatory system disorders and venous, which usually manifest themselves with swelling, edema and a sense of heaviness. In this context, graduated compression stockings are a great help, as they are a conservative type device designed to slow down the venous and lymphatic insufficiency of the lower limbs.
In addition, they reduce annoying and unsightly symptoms such as swelling, pain, a sense of heaviness that can also affect women expecting a baby. There are different types of socks compression:
- therapeutic graduated compression stockings. These exercise the maximum degree of compression at the ankle, then the level of compression decreases as you go up the leg. They can be used for example in case of edema and chronic venous disease. It is, however, about medical devices for which a prescription is required;
- anti-embolic stockings. These socks have been designed to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis and provide a compression level of different levels; also in this case it is good to rely on the consultation of a doctor or specialist;
- support stockings. These socks, on the other hand, are not a medical device and can be purchased safely in special stores. They exert much less compression than graduated compression stockings and have a support function. They are in fact used to relieve the legs in case of heaviness and fatigue.
What are they for
Graduated compression stockings are designed for promote blood flow from the legs to the heart. They are therefore used in the case of:
- venous insufficiency;
- deep vein thrombosis,
- post-thrombotic syndrome;
- varicose veins;
- lymphedema;
- venous eczema.
They have a mechanism of action for which they present the maximum degree of compression at the ankle which gradually decreases as you go up the leg. The pressure exerted by the stocking allows the blood to scroll up, towards the heart, avoiding the reflux downwards, that is towards the foot and into the lateral superficial veins.
Benefits
Graduated compression stockings can therefore be useful for reducing fatigue and a sense of heaviness in the legs, but they also represent a preventive tool, for example in the case of deep vein thrombosis.
It is a condition that should not be underestimated and the risk of which is greater following surgery. The graduated compression stockings, thanks to the compression exerted, allow you to:
- prevent blood from accumulating in the veins of the legs;
- promote blood flow in the legs;
- reduce swelling and pain caused by varicose veins;
- improve lymphatic drainage;
- reduce the risk of dizziness and unsteadiness when standing up.
Which ones to choose
There choice of the type of socks graduated compression depends a lot on personal needs. Those with a restful function and designed to reduce a sense of heaviness and fatigue, can also be purchased independently when these situations are occasional.
Otherwise, in the case of chronic conditions, pathologies – such as those mentioned above – or if you are returning from surgery, it is good to wear graduated compression stockings intended as a medical device. In these cases, the reference specialist will indicate the most suitable type of socks and how long to wear them. We must in fact consider that the socks have some different compression classes, ranging from the lightest to the strongest, so it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions.
To buy graduated compression stockings is good to keep in mind:
- the size. As a reference you can take the measurements of the circumferences of the thigh, calf and ankle (you can help yourself by reading the instructions on the back of the package or by asking the shopkeeper);
- compression class. The measure of compression is in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and ranges from 8 to 15 mmHg (mild compression), but also from 30 to 40 mmHg (high compression).
- sock pattern. In fact, on the market you can find tights, hold-ups, knee-highs.
Putting on graduated compression stockings can be a bit difficult, especially the first few times. It all depends on having a little patience and acquiring manual skills. In general, better wear them in the morning, or when the legs are deflated and have not yet been affected by daily activity.
To put them on, it is good to start by inserting the foot first and then slide the sock over the rest of the leg, proceeding slowly. The socks can also be worn all day, but they must be removed before going to bed.
In conclusion, therefore, graduated compression stockings perform a therapeutic and preventive function. Thanks to their compression mechanism, which can be light or strong according to your conditions, they allow blood to circulate correctly towards the heart, avoiding dangerous stagnation.
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