Compression socks are not only intended for athletes. Although you may see elite athletes most frequently wearing compression socks and sleeves, they aren’t the only ones who feel transformed from wearing them. Every day, people, including emergency workers, particularly nurses, often find compression socks that alter the way they feel during their shifts.
Compression socks are constructed of elastic fibers and are highest at the feet and knees, then slowly upward towards the knee. Swelling takes place through blood (in the vessels). Compression socks reduce the influence of excess lymphatic flow in the lower extremities and excess pooling. Compression socks work together with foot and leg muscles to push and squeeze lymphatic fluid up the lymphatic system and direct blood back to the heart and lungs up the veins.
If you are a nurse and wonder if there are compression socks for you, you’ve come to the right spot. The short answer is absolute, yes. As a nurse, you should wear compression socks to help relieve some of the aches and pains you feel every day.
Are compression socks suitable for nurses?
Nursing is a noble profession, but it is beset with significant physical challenges in a nurse’s life. One of the key issues that all nurses face has to stand on their feet during their working hours for extended periods. As with any profession that keeps you on your feet, your body can protest, and many health problems may arise.
A lot of nurses start experiencing extreme fatigue in their feet and calves by standing all day. You may develop deep vein thrombosis ( DVT) in the leg tissues as this standing continues over the months and years of your career.
There is a range of signs and diseases that can grow without respite while you’re on your feet all day. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the adverse effects of being on your feet continuously and explore how wide calf compression socks can ward off these problems. In reality, after wearing 20 to 30 mmHg knee highs support wear, several nurses felt relief.
What are the best compression socks for nurses?
For nurses, we suggest that you try wide calf compression socks. The top of the hose will land around mid-calf, giving the full support it needs to keep your blood flowing to your heel, ankle, and lower leg. Because compression socks tend to be tight, nurses may find over-the-calf compression socks to make long shifts too uncomfortable. An over the calf sock will not give you the kind of support you need for a full 12-18 hour shift, but a compressive wide calf sock should be perfect.
We suggest trying a couple of different colors too. Being day in and day out in scrubs can get a bit boring. But when you choose from our line of bright colors and daring designs, you can stand out. What else can be more comforting than that?
Which is the best compression socks level for nurses?
Light to moderate compression (15-20 mmHg) will be required for the vast majority of young nurses. This level of compression is beneficial for nurses who are standing all day, traveling on long-haul flights, or experiencing mild swelling in general.
Those with moderate swelling or varicose veins may want to select a firmer (20-30 mm Hg) compression. The next phase up, 30-40 mmHg is usually reserved due to venous stasis or lymphedema, for more severe cases of varicose veins, after stripping and mild swelling.
It’s essential to support your feet and legs with proper shoes, apart from compression socks. Simple wearing compression socks and the right shoes can help solve the discomfort caused by foot and leg aches..