Compression socks—also known as graduated compression socks or compression stockings—apply gentle pressure to the lower legs. You can wear them to boost circulation, decrease swelling in your calves and ankles, and prevent blood clots, as well as to relieve pain and discomfort.
In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about compression socks, including their potential benefits, downsides, and more.
Compression socks are specialized, tighter-than-normal stockings worn on the lower legs. They are sometimes called “graduated” compression stockings because they apply the greatest amount of pressure around the feet and ankles and slightly less pressure on the calves. This helps to improve blood flow in the legs, promote lymphatic drainage, and prevent blood from pooling in the feet.
You can purchase compression socks over-the-counter (OTC) at many pharmacies, drugstores, and online retailers. Medical-grade compression socks, which are known as anti-embolism stockings, are available through medical supply stores and by prescription. These stockings apply more intense pressure, which may be helpful if you are at risk for blood clots.
Uses of Compression Socks
Compression stockings have many potential health benefits, from improving blood flow to reducing swelling, relieving pain, and preventing dizziness just after you stand up.
Boosting Circulation
One of the main benefits of wearing compression socks is improved circulation. Compression socks continuously squeeze your feet and legs throughout the day, which encourages oxygen-rich blood to flow through your leg veins. This helps lower the chance of blood clots and speed up the healing process for people who are prone to pressure sores and other wounds.
People with conditions like diabetes, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and varicose veins may benefit from wearing compression socks to improve circulation in their lower legs.
Decreasing Swelling
Compression socks can improve lymphatic drainage in your feet, ankles, and calves. Lymphatic drainage is a process that helps circulate lymph, or tissue fluid, around the organs and vessels in the lymphatic system.
This can help to reduce and prevent swelling for people who have certain conditions, such as lymphedema. It can also be beneficial for pregnant people, especially during the third trimester.
Reducing Pain
By improving blood flow and circulation, compression stockings can relieve pain, discomfort, and a heavy feeling in the lower legs. This may be especially useful for people who:
- Are often on their feet at work, such as retail and healthcare workers
- Have to sit for long periods of time, such as pilots, frequent travelers, and wheelchair users
- Work from home
- Have chronic pain or fatigue
- Have recently undergone surgery
Preventing Dizziness Upon Standing
Compression socks encourage oxygen-rich blood to flow up through your legs and back toward your heart. They also prevent blood and lymphatic fluid from collecting and remaining stagnant around your feet and ankles. This may help to relieve symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, and low blood pressure just after standing up for people with conditions like:
- Dysautonomia (a disorder of the autonomic nervous system)
- Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure that drops when moving to stand up)
- Vasovagal syncope (fainting caused by a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure)
- Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Improving Exercise Performance
Athletes often use compression socks to improve exercise performance and endurance, reduce muscle soreness and fatigue, and decrease recovery time after a tough workout or injury.
It’s not entirely clear why compression socks may be useful during and after vigorous exercise. However, some researchers argue compression socks can move lactic acid more efficiently through the muscles, which speeds up the recovery process.
Research shows wearing compression socks can effectively promote blood flow in the lower half of the body and decrease swelling, especially among people with diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Here are a few findings supporting the efficacy of compression socks for relieving a variety of symptoms:
- A study that found compression socks improved lower limb blood flow and physical performance among elite wheelchair rugby athletes.
- One randomized clinical trial that found nursing students reported significant reductions in pain and swelling while wearing knee-length compression stockings during a shift.
- A study that found people with POTS were less likely to experience low blood pressure and heart palpitations while wearing compression garments on the lower half of their body.
- A study that found compression socks could speed up the post-exercise recovery process among typically inactive adults as well as athletes.
Are There Downsides to Wearing Compression Socks?
Compression socks are safe and effective for most people. However, there are some potential side effects, including:
- Discomfort, especially when socks are too tight
- Blisters
- Skin reactions, such as contact dermatitis and rashes
- Rarely, pressure sores, nerve damage, or necrosis (tissue death) due to ill-fitting stockings
To avoid these downsides, it’s important to make sure your compression socks are well-fitted. Poorly fitted stockings can fold and crease, leading to an uneven distribution of pressure. This can increase your risk of a skin reaction.
You can find compression socks at many different medical supply stores, drugstores, big box retailers, and pharmacies, as well as online. Your medical insurance may be able to cover the cost of your compression socks depending on your reason for wearing them.
Typically, it’s safe to wear compression socks for eight hours a day. However, you should avoid sleeping in them.
Here are a few tips about using compression socks safely and effectively:
- Put on your compression socks right after getting up in the morning. After pulling them up to just below the knee, make sure you smooth out any folds or creases.
- If you have trouble putting on your compression socks, applying lotion or cornstarch to your legs may make it easier. You can also use a stocking donner, which is available online and at many drugstores.
- Wash and dry your stockings every day.
- Don’t use the same compression socks for more than six months.
Other Considerations
Let your healthcare provider know if your compression socks are causing pain or discomfort. They may be able to help you find a pair that fits more comfortably.
You should avoid wearing compression socks if you have:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Severe pulmonary edema
- Severe peripheral neuropathy
- Fragile, thin, or damaged skin due to recent skin grafts, cellulitis, dermatitis, or other conditions
Compression socks provide continuous gentle pressure to your lower legs and feet. Many people wear them to decrease swelling, prevent blood clots, reduce pain, and improve circulation. Some people also use compression socks to improve exercise performance and prevent lightheadedness just after standing up. While compression socks pose relatively few health risks, you shouldn’t use them if you have peripheral artery disease (PAD) or very fragile skin.
