What is Compression Therapy?

Compression therapy is the application of external pressure to the legs to reduce the venous pressure. External pressure to the limb reduces the lymph fluids in the legs, which brings the limb to a dry state. This is known as edema. Ongoing maintenance with compression therapy and compression stockings can help your legs obtain better health.

The goals of compression therapy are to prevent the decrease in blood flow velocity, restore blood flow to normal velocity and to reduce and prevent edema.

How do Compression Stockings Help Me?

Compression stockings push the dilated vein walls back into the place, and this will eventually help the veins pump the blood throughout the body in a more efficient manner. As the blood flow increases, the swelling, fatigue, pain and the possible formation of blood clots in the leg will be reduced.

Compression stockings apply pressure to the legs constricting the diameter of the veins and thus closing the venous valves to reduce the amount of blood that might flow back. Blood usually flows through veins with smaller diameters more quickly. Thus there is less chance of blood clots or thrombi formation within the small veins. The pressure added by the compression stockings from the ankle upward will accelerate the flow of the blood to the heart and other vital organs.

The muscles in your leg naturally compress your veins during exercise and movement. Compression stockings also work with your leg muscles by providing an external barrier, allowing the muscle-pumping action more effective.

As the compression stockings help the veins in the legs to better circulate blood flow, it will reduce swelling, fatigue, pain and possible formation of blood clots in your leg.

Furthermore, compression stockings provide graduated compression. This means that the compression socks will apply 100% pressure at the ankle, 70% at the calf, and 30% at the thigh. Compression stockings do not apply equal pressure on your legs, but rather graduated compression to better combat the effects of gravity.  The graduated compression provided by compression stockings will maximize the blood flow from the leg veins back to the lungs and heart.

There are compression garments that provide the same level of pressure all over the leg, known as the anti-embolism stockings or TED Hose. These anti-embolism stockings are intended for patients that are non-ambulatory or bedridden. For more information on the difference between compression socks and anti-embolism stockings see the article “What are the differences between anti-embolism stockings and compression stockings”. 

In order for your compression garment to properly apply pressure to your legs, getting the correct fit for your compression stockings is crucial to their effectiveness. This is why it is very important to consult your doctor about which compression socks are best suited for you.

 

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