Nurses are on their feet for sometimes 12+ hours at a time. Sometimes even more. Finding ways to keep your feet comfortable is imperative. Great shoes play a huge part in this; however, many nurses swear by compression socks. There are many brands. Here is an article with some of the top compression sock brands.
What exactly are compression socks and what are the benefits of them?
According to Wikipedia, “Compression stockings are elastic compression garments worn around the leg, compressing the limb. This reduces the diameter of distended veins and increases venous blood flow velocity and valve effectiveness. Compression therapy helps decrease venous pressure, prevents venous stasis and impairments of venous walls, and relieves heavy and aching legs.”
Healthline says that some benefits of compression socks are:
Boost circulation in your legs
Boosting the circulation in your legs helps to get the necessary nutrients and blood flow to the tissue in your legs, keeping them healthy.
Support veins
Compression socks help to support your veins and can help prevent varicose veins.
Prevent blood from pooling in your leg veins
Pooling in the leg veins can be very painful, and if not treated, the swelling and pressure will increase.
Diminish leg swelling
Leg swelling can lead to other issues and can also be very painful.
Prevent the development of deep vein thrombosis in your legs
This is a huge plus for compression socks as deep vein thrombosis is very serious and can lead to more serious issues and sometimes death.
Help lessen the pain caused by varicose veins
Being on your feet for as many hours as nurses are already causing tired and painful legs. Add varicose veins to it, and it can be unbearable.
Other benefits can include:
- Fewer leg pains
- Better circulation
- Less swelling in the legs and feet
- They can help with joint pain
There are many benefits to wearing compression socks; we hope that you have found this article helpful. Not all compression socks are the same, so you need to do your research. The article mentioned at the beginning of the article is a great resource to find some of the top compression socks voted on by our Facebook group members. Our Gypsy Nurse group is also a great place to find information on compression socks.
