Compression Stockings and Socks

Though many people have heard of compression stockings and socks, most still have a lot of questions. How much should you spend on them? They can cost anywhere from a little over $10 to over $100. What do the different pressure ratings mean? Can you wear them for non-medical reasons? At Quarry Medical Chiropractic, we’re used to fielding questions like these. Here are some answers to the questions we most commonly get:

What are compression stockings?

Graduated medical compression stocking and socks apply pressure to your legs to improve circulation and reduce discomfort and swelling. They come in various styles and sizes from ankle length to full length, different strengths of compression, and many more colours than nude. They may be prescribed by a doctor to treat conditions that cause poor blood flow, like varicose veins, or you may choose to wear them to help with a variety of foot and leg complaints, for example to ease swollen feet when you are pregnant.

Who should wear compression stockings?

From patients recovering from surgery to marathon runners—many people wear compression stockings. The most obvious candidates for compression therapy are people with various leg conditions, including venous problems, like varicose veins; patients with leg swelling (edema); people with circulatory problems; and those who are at risk for blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis. They can also help with a variety of other leg and foot problems, such as plantar fasciitis.     

Additionally, people who spend a lot of time on their feet, like flight attendants and nurses, and athletes, like runners and basketball players, swear by them to improve comfort.

How do compression stockings work?

Blood has to work hard against gravity to flow back to your heart. As you walk, the calf muscles around your veins help move the blood back up toward your heart. The pressure of compression stockings acts as an additional layer of muscle.

Anything that impedes blood flow in your legs—circulation problems, being bedridden (especially after injury or surgery), or weakness in the walls of your veins (venous insufficiency)—causes blood to pool in the veins of your lower legs or feet. This results in swelling, achiness, and leg fatigue, and can also make you vulnerable to blood clots.

By mimicking muscles and squeezing the leg tissues and walls of your veins, compression stockings help circulate your blood. They can also improve the flow of fluid around the cells in your legs, referred to as lymph, which can help reduce tissue swelling. This can also benefit healthy wearers. For example, some people find that improving blood and lymph flow makes their legs feel less tired.

What do the compression ratings mean?

Compression stockings come in several different levels of compression, measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. The higher the level, the more pressure is applied to your legs. Healthy people, like workers with tired feet, should choose lighter pressure. Moderate compression (15 to 20 mmHg) can help with minor leg and foot problems, like mild leg swelling. Higher compression levels (20 to 30 mmHg, 30 to 40 mmHg, and more than 40 mmHg), sometimes referred to as “medical-grade,” are for use in medical treatment.   

What is the difference between anti-embolism stockings and compression stockings?

The biggest difference is the compression rating. Anti-embolism stockings, which are intended for people who are bedridden, have a lower rating, usually of 8–18mmHg, while compression stockings have a higher rating, generally of 15–20mmHg or higher, and are meant for people who are ambulatory.

Will insurance cover my Compression Socks?

Most insurance companies, through your Extended Health Benefits Coverage, will reimburse for medical compression sock and stocking expenses. A prescription must first be obtained from your family doctor, in order to submit the cost of the compression therapy to your extended health benefits provider.  If this is a requirement of your health benefits ask us how we can help speed the process up.

How do I know what size and kind to get?

Since there is no universal standard for sizing, measurements will have to be taken of different parts of your leg. Depending on the type of stocking, you may need to know the circumference of your ankle, calf, or thigh and the distance from your knee or thigh to the floor. Contact us at 705.812.2575 and we can help you find the right compression stockings for you.