How Do Compression Stockings Work?

Introduced in the 1950's, compression stockings have become more and more widely known for their effectiveness. As the knowledge of compression therapy has grown, the role of compression stockings has expanded from a medical role, such as preventing deep vein thrombosis, to a care role, such as enhancing athletic performance and reducing muscle fatigue.

To understand compression therapy - the principle of compression stockings - one should first understand arteries, veins and blood circulation.

Arteries and veins perform the function of transporting blood, but they play different roles: arteries deliver oxygenated blood to various parts of the body, and veins send blood from different parts back to the heart. Veins take on a harder job - especially when people are standing or sitting - because they need to overcome gravity to get blood from the feet back to the heart.

In addition to gravity, venous valves in the legs may also add the stress of the veins' work: they are lined in the veins and allow blood to flow only from the bottom to the top. When the valves are damaged or weakened, they can't help the veins return blood - the veins are left to fight alone.

In this case, compression stockings can effectively reduce the burden on the veins by a special design of decreasing pressure from the ankle upwards, compression stockings counteract gravity and failing leg valves, dramatically improving the return of blood to the leg veins, thus relieving leg swelling and varicose veins, as well as accelerating muscle recovery.