Women's Compression Socks

Compression socks improve circulation in the legs to reduce discomfort and energy depletion. They act like a tool for your blood vessels to help them work more efficiently.

Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart. Once depleted, veins carry the blood back to your heart to refuel on oxygen. During this cycle, the veins in your lower body are working against the forces of gravity in returning oxygen-deficient blood to your heart.

Compression socks utilize compression therapy to apply gentle external pressure to the legs and ankles. This pressure acts as a source of support for your veins as they pump blood back to your heart. As the compression socks encourage blood flow, legs become less prone to blood pooling. With improved circulation brought on by compression therapy, your legs will have more stamina and a reduction of fatigue-induced pain.

Compression socks have differing levels of compression depending on the needs of the person wearing them. There are four common levels of compression depending on the range of mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

1. Mild compression: 8-15 mmHg
2. Medium/Moderate compression: 15-20 mmHg
3. Firm compression: 20-30 mmHg
4. Extra firm compression: 30-40 mmHg

Firm and extra-firm compression feature medical-grade compression and actively seek to counteract symptoms of disease or disorder such as varicose veins or DVT (deep vein thrombosis/economy class syndrome). Because of this, people often purchase medical-grade compression socks at the recommendation of a doctor, though that is certainly not required.

Mild compression focuses on relieving the typical aches and pains that come along with hours spent on your feet, while medium compression may be a necessary upgrade for people experiencing a bit more intense pain and achiness in tired legs.

You can wear compression socks whenever you plan to be on your feet. Often for nurses, compression socks go on before a shift and come off after. But plenty of people, nurses included, are busy enough to wear compression socks all day long – at work, at home, and at play. If you are a nurse who is also a parent, you may find that compression socks are just as useful at the park as they are at the hospital.

One thing to keep in mind though is that compression socks lose compression over time as they stretch and wear. If you do not need compression socks outside of work hours, changing into something basic may help preserve performance.

If you have vascular insufficiencies or heart complications, compression socks may not be for you and you should talk to your doctor before using them. However, for most people who work on their feet for extended periods, compression socks are entirely safe. With that said, there are a few things to consider in ensuring you are comfortable in your compression socks.

1. Cutting off circulation: Compression therapy improves circulation, but it can have the opposite effect if the socks do not fit properly. Make sure your next pair of compression socks match your foot size and are in a compression range that suits your needs. Consider wide-calf compression socks if you have thicker calves.
2. Bruising of the legs: It is rare that compression socks cause bruising, but if you find yourself in this situation, you may be in need of lower levels of compression.
3. Skin irritation: If you are used to wearing cotton socks, the material of compression socks may feel new to you. Compression socks can feature fabrics like spandex and nylon (and yes, even your trusty cotton). Most people find added comfort in compression socks, but if your skin is feeling irritated, consider easing into compression socks to allow yourself to adjust.

If you are on your feet at work, compression socks should be on your radar. In fact, even if you sit at a desk for long periods, compression socks could provide relief to stagnating circulation. At the end of the day, the purpose of compression therapy is to improve circulation. Anyone in a situation that reduces the efficiency of circulation could stand to benefit from compression, from athletes to retirees and everyone in between. For example, compression socks could be appropriate for a weekend spent tidying up the house.

At Nurse Mates, we focus on providing comfortable and supportive compression socks to nurses and medical professionals. Nurses often spend up to 12 hours a shift or more working tirelessly to address the needs of patients. No matter your state of health and fitness, 12 hours on your feet will make anyone’s body ache. Compression socks from Nurse Mates offer solace to hardworking legs in the medical community.

If you are in the market for compression socks, you have come to the right place. Nurse Mates offers a wide selection of compression socks with varying levels of compression and a variety of prints to help you find the look and feel that you love. Browse our collection to find your next favorite pair of compression socks.