Should You Wear Compression Stockings at Midlife?
Should you wear compression stockings at midlife? Compression stockings are something that I personally have worn for many years now. Many nurses wear them, and not just those in midlife. I know several young women who love wearing their compression stockings when they work. Many people think that compression stockings are just for elderly people, and are ugly and hot. Well, I just have to say NO to ALL! Compression stockings are for all ages, including women at midlife. And there are so many cute (and even sexy!) compression stockings on the market these days. I’ve included research and discussion in this blog post to help you decide if they are right for you.
What are compression stockings and what do they do?
Normally the valves in our veins along with our calf muscles help work against gravity and push the blood back up to the heart. But as we age, the valves sometimes don’t work as well as they used to. Or if we spend a lot of time sitting or standing, we may start having the blood back up in our veins and then leaking out into the tissues. This causes varicose veins, spider veins, swelling, and eventually (if left unchecked) skin changes and ulcers.
Compression stockings are specialty socks which use a graduated level of compression to help the blood in the legs return to the heart. They are designed to closely fit the contours of the leg and squeeze the tissue to decrease swelling. The stockings are firmer at the ankle with less compression as the socks go up the leg.
Compression socks help improve circulation by keeping the blood moving back towards the heart and preventing that back up of blood in our legs. Preventing this back up of blood helps remove the swelling from our legs that occurs when serum leaks out of the swollen veins and into the surrounding tissues (1).
These stockings don’t make varicose veins and spider veins go away, but they can help prevent more from occurring.
Compression socks can also reduce your chances of getting a blood clot in your leg that can occur from the blood backing up in your veins (2).
A back up of blood in the veins causing varicose veins and swelling is associated with pain and discomfort over time. So, using compression stockings does help to decrease that related pain. This is one of the main reasons I wear compression stockings at midlife. My legs have started to ache so much after a long day at work, and I have found that wearing stockings helps significantly reduce this pain.
Lastly, compression stockings have also been used by many athletes as they have been shown to decrease muscle fatigue and soreness as well as improve muscle function (3).
Who benefits from wearing compression stockings at midlife?
Studies have shown that people who have prolonged standing and sitting are at risk of developing chronic venous disorders (CVD) such as varicose veins, swelling, skin issues, and wounds that won’t heal (4). This makes teachers, hairdressers, office staff, healthcare professionals, restaurant service workers, and many others are at risk.
Some studies have also shown that the use of compression stockings reduces the risk of developing blood clots in the legs in those at higher risk, and those who travel long distances (5).
Athletes can benefit from the use of compression stockings to boost blood flow to their muscles during exercise, and to enhance recovery (3).
People who already have varicose veins and spider veins can benefit from preventing more of these varicosities from occurring. And those who have lower leg edema will benefit from removing that edema and preventing further issues in the future.
Who shouldn’t wear compression stockings (unless prescribed by a healthcare professional)?
If you aren’t sure if you should be wearing compression stockings at midlife, consider talking to your healthcare professional. Some of the people who should do this include (but not limited to):
- People with poor arterial circulation
- Those with severe peripheral neuropathy or inability to feel their legs
- Individuals with allergies to stocking materials
- People with severe deformities (may need custom fitted stockings or garments)
- Those with very fragile skin or ongoing skin issues
- Individuals with Congestive Heart Failure or extremely swollen legs
- Someone who previously had a blood clot in their leg(s)
Another bonus about speaking with your healthcare professional is that having a prescription for the stockings will sometimes allow them to be covered by private healthcare insurance benefits.
What kinds of compression stockings are available? Where can you buy compression stockings?
There are different kinds of compression stockings:
- Non-medical (over the counter) support stockings in strengths of 8-12mmHg and 10-15mmHg. These can be purchased in stores, pharmacies and online.
- Graduated Compression socks in 20-30mmHg, 30-40mmHg. These are available with a prescription from your healthcare professional and can also be purchased without a prescription (with caution). These types should be professionally fitted by a certified fitter and can be purchased at specialty stores and pharmacies. Please note- improperly fitted compression stockings can cause bruising, chafing, and skin/tissue death if the sock cuts off blood supply.
- Anti-embolism socks are typically prescribed for preventing blood clots in people with limited mobility (ex: after surgery).
Compression stockings can be purchased with the following forms:
- Open toes
- Closed toes
- Knee high
- Thigh high
- Pantyhose
- Leg sleeves
- Leggings
Also, compression stockings come in many different colours, prints, styles, and even some with rhinestones! They are made of many different types of materials such as cotton, bamboo, microfiber polyester, wool, nylon, and of course elastic. My favorite material is merino wool, as it keeps my feet cool, even in hot weather. There are many styles with moisture wicking and odor reducing technology in them that are fabulous too!
How to wear compression stockings at midlife:
- Smooth the socks out so they lie flat against your skin and distribute the knit evenly. Special donning gloves help with this.
- Don’t fold the tops down- this can tourniquet the leg!
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions as well as your healthcare professional’s guidance.
- Walking helps with the compression to aid in the blood to return to the heart.
- Wear the socks from the start of the day and take off just before bed- unless prescribed differently.
- Wash the socks by hand and hang to dry. This prevents the elastic from wearing out prematurely.
- Replace your socks when the elastic starts to wear out- usually 3-6 months depending on the type.
- If you gain or lose weight, consider getting refitted.
Talk to your healthcare professional whether compression stockings are something you might benefit from and the strength of compression that you should be wearing. Many people can benefit from wearing compression stockings at midlife- and still look stylish!
Please note that while I am a Registered Nurse, I am not your nurse and my opinions above do not constitute or replace medical advice. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your physician or healthcare provider. Also, see my disclaimer here for more information.
Take care,
Resources:
- Evaluation of therapeutic compression stockings in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. Dermatol Surg 1999;25:116–20.
- Sachdeva A, Dalton M, Lees T. Graduated compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD001484. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001484.pub4.
- Mota GR, Simim MAM, Dos Santos IA, Sasaki JE, Marocolo M. Effects of Wearing Compression Stockings on Exercise Performance and Associated Indicators: A Systematic Review. Open Access J Sports Med. 2020;11:29-42. Published 2020 Jan 22.
- Iwona Sudoł-Szopińska, Anna Bogdan, Tomasz Szopiński, Anna K. Panorska & Małgorzata Kołodziejczak(2011) Prevalence of Chronic Venous Disorders Among Employees Working in Prolonged Sitting and Standing Postures, International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 17:2, 165-173
- https://www.cmaj.ca/content/186/10/E391.short
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