Swelling is one of the most common symptoms of many conditions that affect the leg, but why? The answer has to do with gravity. While standing, your legs become the lowest points of your body. This means that the body has to work extra hard to pump blood back up the legs and towards the heart. In healthy patients with good circulation this is easy. For those with circulation problems, particularly vein problems, things become more challenging. Compression therapy for the legs, ankles, and feet helps!
When blood has a hard time making it back up the legs the condition is known as venous reflux or venous stasis. It’s usually caused by damage to the one-way valves inside the long veins of the legs. When these valves aren’t working properly blood begins to drip back down towards the feet. This is ultimately what causes the swelling and pain affecting millions of patients worldwide.
In the vast majority of cases these symptoms are due to this reversed flow (venous reflux). Compression socks can help. By squeezing the feet, ankles, and calves, these specialty garments force blood back up the legs and towards the heart. It’s a simple yet effective drug-free treatment that almost any patient can benefit from.
Compression therapy for legs, ankles, and feet:
Compression socks only work if you wear them, however. Additionally, they must be worn correctly. When putting them on make sure there aren’t any wrinkles or creases. These can put focused pressure on the skin and potentially cause further problems. You also have to select the length that’s right for the severity of your condition. Compression socks are available in ankle, knee high, and thigh high varieties. In general, the worse your condition is, the higher the sock you’ll need.
But how long should you wear them? Again, this depends on the severity of your symptoms and your doctor’s advice. Many patients who experience swelling and pain on a daily basis choose to wear compression garments all day, removing them only to sleep. Many doctors make similar recommendations to patients with a history of blood clots in their leg veins.
What Are Benefits Of Compression Therapy?
Compression therapy has so many different benefits and it’s guaranteed that you don’t know about most of them.
So let’s look at some of these benefits:
- Treat and Prevent Venous Problems
For many popular vein problems like spider veins, varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency compression therapy can be a great option!
Since they can help your blood flow back to the heart, reduce swelling and get rid of the discomfort as well.
Which means if you are a patient of any kind of vein problem, your three problems need only one solution.
- Maintains A Healthy Blood Flow
This may sound unbelievable but it’s the truth! Wearing compression stockings can really improve your blood circulation.
Compression stockings apply pressure on your legs which can help your blood flow faster than usual.
This can help you improve your circulation even more if tried with normal exercises like walking and swimming.
- Helping In Faster Surgery Recovery
After many types of cosmetic surgeries compression clothes are given to patients.
These clothes apply pressure on the treated area and help them recovery faster.
By wearing these type of clothes your swelling and pain will be reduced and your treated will get desired shape.
Therefore every person who has underwent a cosmetic surgery must wear them until they don’t notice any good results.
- Keep Blood Clots Away
Blood clots are small but really scary and dangerous.
If you develop them then your vein can develop more injuries which can interfere with your blood circulation.
But with the pressure applied by compression garments you won’t face such problems.
Your clots will heal fast and won’t form easily, which is the reason compression therapy is really useful.
For any kind of vein or blood related problem it’s a great choice, so never hesitate to choose it!
Support General Legacy
As you might have inferred from the aforementioned advantages, better circulation provides a LOT of advantages. Overall, discomfort from blood clots in your legs can take many different forms. Although compression socks are frequently thought to be for the elderly, they are actually helpful for people of all ages, and wearing them earlier can only benefit you more!
For Those Who Sit Or Stand All Day, Better Circulation
Long durations of sitting or standing cause blood to collect in your legs and ankles. Our graduated compression socks force blood up and through the leg even when the wearer is seated since they are tightest at the ankle.
This compression makes it possible for blood to flow freely through the legs. Compression socks have a variety of advantages, one of which is improved circulation.
Aid In Muscle Reborn
Compression is a common practice among athletes; in the “RICE” recuperation method popular among coaches, the C stands for compression! At least once a year, 65 percent of runners experience an injury. Ankle pain, shin splints, and inflammation might develop as a result of the continuous pounding. Compression socks are becoming more and more common on the starting line of races because they lessen the strain on your muscles during activity and help your legs recover faster. Also, they improve circulation, which might lessen muscular tiredness during a run or race.
Compression socks are becoming more popular in cycling as a technique to relieve sore calf muscles because they also prevent lactic acid from building up in tired muscles as part of a recovery strategy.
How does compression therapy impact muscle recovery after exercise?
Compression therapy is believed to aid in muscle recovery after exercise through several mechanisms:
1. Enhanced blood flow: Compression garments apply pressure to the muscles, which can help improve blood circulation. This enhanced blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping them recover faster.
2. Reduced muscle oscillation: During exercise, muscles can undergo micro-tears and damage. Compression garments help reduce muscle oscillation (vibration), which can lessen the extent of this damage and reduce muscle soreness post-exercise.
Can compression therapy be used to treat varicose veins?
Yes, compression therapy can be used as a non-invasive treatment for varicose veins. Compression stockings or bandages are often recommended to help improve symptoms and slow the progression of varicose veins. Here’s how compression therapy can help:
1. Improved circulation: Compression garments apply pressure to the veins, helping to improve blood flow and prevent blood from pooling in the veins. This can reduce swelling and discomfort associated with varicose veins.
2. Reduced symptoms: Compression therapy can help alleviate symptoms such as aching, heaviness, and fatigue in the legs that are commonly associated with varicose veins.
What are the potential risks of wearing compression garments that are too tight?
Wearing compression garments that are too tight can pose several potential risks and complications:
1. Restricted blood flow: Compression garments that are excessively tight can constrict blood vessels, leading to reduced blood flow to the extremities. This can cause numbness, tingling, or a feeling of pins and needles in the affected area. In severe cases, it can lead to tissue damage or necrosis (death of tissue) due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.
2. Skin irritation: Tight compression garments can rub against the skin and cause friction, leading to irritation, chafing, or even skin ulcers. This is particularly common in areas where the fabric constantly rubs against the skin, such as behind the knees or under the arms.
All of this being said, anyone who wants to improve their lower extremity circulation can benefit from compression garments of some type. Many people who work in professions which involve standing for long periods on hard surfaces wear them daily.