5 reasons why you need compression socks

Many people hear the words ‘compression socks‘ and immediately think, ‘I’m too young for those!’ Hold on -because that’s wrong. Time to realize that, no matter your age or activity level, compression socks can always provide immense benefits to your health and well-being. Just think about less tired legs, less swollen feet and less muscle pain! Sounds good? Then read on to learn about the health benefits of compression socks, how they work and different types of sports that can benefit from compression socks.

What are compression socks and how do compression socks work?

First of all, a little lesson in biology: Your heart constantly pumps blood through your arteries. These vessels act as a hose, carrying blood at high pressure to your entire body and providing cells with oxygen and other necessities. This, of course, includes the arteries and vessels in your legs, as well. Unfortunately, getting blood, lymph and other fluids out of your lower limbs is a bit more difficult. Your veins and lymphatic system are not pressurized, meaning they have to work against gravity to move fluid back up your legs. Your calf and leg muscle usually do this, but they don’t always work efficiently enough to prevent blood from pooling in the feet, causing that dreaded ‘heavy leg’ feeling.

Compression socks assist in circulation by helping push blood and fluids out of your legs. They create a ‘pressure gradient’ by fitting snugly around the ankle and tapering off in pressure towards the top of the sock. This creates better venous pressure, and prevents swelling and increased fatigue after a long day of work or activity.

All clear so far? Just keep in mind that compression socks boost the blood circulation in your legs.

5 reasons to wear compression socks

  1. You sit all day at work
    Sitting all day is killing you. This may sound alarmist at first, but when you understand the human body and how we were intended to live and move, then you can imagine how staying parked in a chair can suck the very life out of you, and severely limit your mobility and posture as you age. Wearing compression socks is – no joke – it has been shown to prevent or reduce swelling and venous blood pooling in the legs and feet. This actually decreases the risk of blood clotting, which leads to blockages that cause heart attacks. While it might be hard to imagine that footwear can be so important, the truth is that this simple, small investment is a “step” each day in the right direction for better health and less hospital-time as you age.

  2. You stand for long periods of time
    Walking encourages more blood flow by using the calf as a muscle pump for your veins, but standing in one position will greatly reduce the effectiveness of this system. This is why trades workers, retail employees, and hospitality staff are all great candidates for using compression socks! Your legs will feel less fatigued and have more energy when your shift is done.

  3. You exercise
    Realistically, wearing compression socks probably isn’t going to shave minutes off your half marathon time or get you to squat that extra 20 pounds. What compression can help with is post-exercise recovery and reducing soreness. Studies have demonstrated that wearing compression socks during exercise and recovery can lessen muscle soreness in the legs.

  4. You travel
    Remember earlier when we explained how sitting for long hours can cause blood to pool in your legs? Travelling far distances on an airplane can have the same effect. Prolonged sitting while flying increases your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis – or blood clots. Using compression therapy is a great tool to prevent this. As well, it will help keep your legs feeling fresh when you finally arrive at your destination – no kidding!

  5. You like cool socks!
    As simple as that, our McDavid Compression socks are simply stylish. From Whether you need something sharp for work or enjoy the ‘athleisure’ aesthetic, compression socks will look as good as they feel (promised)!