When blood flows around your body, it has to work against gravity in order to move from your feet, up your legs, and back into your heart. This happens by muscle contractions pushing the blood upwards, while valves inside your veins stop the blood from flowing back down. Compression therapy supports this process by squeezing the leg to help blood flow faster and keep moving in the right direction. 

What is compression therapy?

Compression therapy is carried out using compression socks, stockings and sleeves – which are like a sock but without the foot. Depending on your needs, different levels of pressure are available, ranging from light to firm. Most compression wear features graduated compression, meaning it’s firmest at the ankle and gets lighter as it goes up the leg. There are also specific compression socks available for those with diabetes. These feature extra cushioning, minimal to no seams, and non-binding fabric. You will often need a prescription for compression wear, so be sure to speak with your healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you!

What are the benefits of compression therapy?

There are many reasons why you might be recommended compression therapy.

Treating & preventing varicose veins

Varicose veins happen when the valves in your veins get worn out and blood pools in them, causing them to bulge and become distended. This can cause an achy, heavy feeling in your legs, as well as throbbing and swelling in the lower legs. Compression therapy can help reduce the discomfort and swelling caused by varicose veins, as well as helping prevent new ones from forming.

Lowering the risk of blood clots

If you’re off your feet for a while, you have a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. Situations such as being in hospital for a long period of time and recuperating at home following a hospital stay could put you at a higher risk. You’re also at a greater risk of DVT when you travel – especially during long-haul flights – as you’re usually sitting down for long periods of time. Compression socks and stockings can help reduce the risk of developing a blood clot in these situations, as well as help with the swelling and discomfort that you may experience in your legs.

Healing leg ulcers

Leg ulcers are sores on the skin that can be caused by a variety of conditions including diabetes, kidney failure, and high blood pressure. Compression therapy can help heal leg ulcers faster by improving blood flow, as well as reducing symptoms such as pain, itching, and swelling.

Preventing tired and heavy legs

Even if you don’t suffer with any of the conditions above, you may still benefit from compression socks. By boosting blood flow, they can reduce swelling, as well as the tired, heavy feeling many people experience in their legs.

Your healthcare provider will be able to discuss with you the level of compression – measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) – that best suits your needs. Light compression wear ranges from 8 to 15 mmHg, moderate from 15 to 20 mmHg, and firm from 20 to 30+ mmHg.

If you’re interested in experiencing the benefits of compression wear, you’re welcome to come into one of our stores to speak with a specialist. We can help you fill your prescription and our Certified Fitters will help you find the right product for you and your needs. You can also browse our wide range of compression socks from brands like Medi, Dr. Segal’s, SIGVARIS GROUP, JOBST, and TRUFORM, in-store at your local Wellwise by Shoppers^TM location and on our website.

The information presented in this blog post is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information in this post as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for professional counseling care. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

Resources

https://www.webmd.com/dvt/benefits-of-compression-therapy

https://www.orthomed.ca/blog/Medical-Compression-Socks-for-Venous-disorders.html#:~:text=Compression%20stockings%20contain%20elastic%20fibres,your%20veins%20to%20resist%20backflow.

https://www.webmd.com/dvt/choose-compression-stockings

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/canada/services/compression-stockings