Compression socks or stockings have a plethora of benefits that sometimes make up wonder why we don’t see more people wearing them more often. Improving your blood circulation is the main goal which is why women with all sorts of goals use it. It can be beneficial if you are an athlete or pregnant with swollen ankles. 

But understanding how to choose the right pair for you as well as use them correctly isn’t always understood! That’s why we are here to help break down what qualities matter and how you can use compression socks to take full advantage. 

What Qualities Make Good Compression Socks?

There are a number of factors we must consider when looking at compression socks. Determining our needs and goals should be the first question. This will allow us to figure out what type of compression works best. But it doesn’t matter if the durability and quality aren’t there. And ultimately, we also need to know more specifically what area we are addressing. 

1. Durability and Quality 

If the socks are expensive and don’t last long, then the investment is not worth it. If they are also of poor quality, chances are they won’t be able to address the needs, meet the goals, or provide good blood circulation to recover muscles. 

In this case, you want to read reviews to ensure that customers feel the socks have lasted as long as they are worth. Naturally, compression socks can break down because we stretch them out primarily through the excuse. But suitable materials should hold well.

Good materials should also not cause irritations or abrasions to your skin. Some people have sensitive skin and may feel uncomfortable in some brands more than others. This could take a little bit of trial and error as with other garments like underwear or bras. 

2. Tight Fit Without Cutting Circulation

Finding the fit that works for you is also a little bit of trial and error. But the way to do this best is to understand what types of compression socks are currently offered on the market. Each type of compression offers a slightly different purpose. 

3. Graduated 

In this case, graduated compression is the most compressed at the ankle and gradually releases towards the knee. These allow for good mobility and will meet certain medical specifications. Because of that this usually requires a medical fitting. The main purpose of these compression socks is to work with lactic acid and fluid buildup. This is a popular choice for athletes and in general, a common type of compression. 

4. Anti-embolism

These compression stockings are mainly used for deep-vein thrombosis. They are not designed for mobile activity but follow the same graduated compression. Unless you have this condition, you won’t need to buy these types of compression socks.

5. Nonmedical Support Hosiery

These are the kind of compression socks that don’t require any medical fittings or prescriptions for. You can find them easily online or even in stores. Often they are bought for tired and achy legs. Most notably, when you fly for long periods, blood flow is less than stellar. These are also one of the most popular types of compression socks you can get because of their accessibility. 

Length of Socks

When we think of compression socks we usually think of socks that cut just below the knee. This is very common but we can also see socks that end at the calf muscles or even ankle socks that focus on the feet rather than the legs. The length of socks may also be directly tied to how you use them. 

How to Use Compression Socks Best

Depending on whether you buy support compression socks or you buy a medically fitted solution will depend on how you use them. There are a lot of different uses for compression socks. Let’s go over the most common reasons women use them. 

1. Working Out and Recovery

Working out and recovering from sports and exercises like running, cycling, and heavy lifting are all good reasons to wear compression socks. Some people prefer to wear them after a workout but nowadays many compression socks are made with the idea of mobility in mind. This means increasing your blood flow and circulation while working provides a head start on recovery and peak exercise. 

2. Flying

Non-medical compression socks are commonly bought for flying. Being so high up in the air naturally decreases our blood oxygen levels and less circulation naturally occurs. This can result in achy, tired, and swollen joints and muscles. By wearing compression socks you are able to reduce the swelling and achy muscles. 

Something like VIM & VIGR’s fashionable compression socks for women is great to consider because they have tons of styles to with whatever outfit you travel in. And since they are a cotton material you don’t have to worry about itchiness when wearing them for longer periods of time. 

3. Pregnancy and Weight Issues

When we put more weight on it’s natural for our legs and ankles to hurt. They become more swollen because they are bearing more weight than they normally have to deal with. This is one of the primary reasons we will see women who are later in their pregnancy journey turn to compression socks to ease some of the discomfort and pain. Both store-bought and medically prescribed options work depending on your needs. 

It’s Always a Win

There is not a whole lot of downside to wearing compression socks. This is only possible when you are wrongfully prescribed something too tight or too lose so the job can’t get done properly. But regardless of whether you are an athlete or someone dealing with a medical issue, finding the right pair can be tricky. That’s why thinking about your needs and a reliable pair is important. 

Someone who is dealing with arch foot pain is going to need a different kind of compression than someone who deals with constant shin splints. Having said that you may have no pain at all because you wear socks when you work out and promote good recovery. 

Giving yourself some time for trial and error is the most important when learning how to use and choose a pair of compression socks. 

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