Many patients with lower limb varicose veins are told by doctors to put on elastic stockings during activities when they visit a peripheral vascular clinic. Many patients who hear the term “elastic stockings” for the first time are confused. In response to the common questions raised by patients in clinical practice about elastic socks, today we invite traditional Chinese medicine to explain to you.
What kind of socks are elastic socks?
“Elastic socks” is the abbreviation for varicose vein elastic socks used by clinical healthcare workers. This is a medical treatment device that has the function of promoting venous blood return to the heart. It is not an ordinary sock, it has different force effects and distributions in different segments. It establishes the highest support pressure in the ankle, gradually decreasing upwards along the legs, reducing to 70% -90% of the maximum pressure value in the calf and 25% -45% of the maximum pressure value in the thighs. This decreasing pressure change can effectively promote venous blood flow in the lower limbs, alleviate or improve the pressure borne by the lower limb veins and venous valves.
Why wear stretch socks?
Lower limb varicose veins are caused by incomplete closure of the lower limb venous valves, which prevents the blood flow of the lower limb veins from fully and effectively flowing back to the heart, resulting in blood reflux and long-term accumulation of venous blood in the lower limb veins. This can lead to lower limb swelling or even edema after prolonged standing, sitting, or activity. In daily life, there are some patients with mild lesions who do not need surgical treatment, or some patients who should undergo surgical treatment but express hesitation or fear, or have just undergone surgery for lower limb varicose veins, so they need to wear elastic socks. Due to the pressure of different segments in elastic socks, they can promote venous reflux, improve limb symptoms, prevent deep vein thrombosis in the lower limbs, prevent further aggravation of varicose veins, and prevent recurrence after varicose vein surgery.
Where can I buy stretch socks?
Some hospitals can purchase stretch socks at their own expense, and can also purchase them at pharmacies and online. There are both imported and domestically produced elastic socks available in the market now, and everyone can choose according to their own economic conditions and actual condition. There are some recommended slim leg socks and tight fitting socks online, which are different from the medical varicose vein elastic socks we use professionally. They do not have the characteristic of segmented pressure and cannot promote venous reflux. When purchasing, everyone must distinguish whether it is a medical varicose elastic sock.