NJ Vascular Doctor: Compression Stockings & Socks

Information may not be reliable

If you are an athlete, it is likely that you have seen advertisements for or articles about "compression socks," many of them claiming that they will improve your performance. If you are like many of the patients we treat in our vein treatment center in New Jersey, you're probably curious about these claims, and how these "compression socks" differ from the medical-grade compression stockings we use to treat vein disease. In this article, we'll explain the differences.

Do compression socks really improve athletic performance?

So far, it looks as if the claims that compression socks aid runners by "increasing oxygen delivery, decreasing lactic acid, preventing cramps, and minimizing muscle fatigue" are anecdotal. Out of the over 15 studies seeking to prove that compression socks improve performance, only two have found any evidence that these "improvements" are the result of anything other than expectation, and the placebo effect. That said, if you can afford these socks without blowing your budget, you might want to give them a try, because if you believe they'll improve your performance, they just might.

Medical-grade compression stockings are different, and have a proven value

Compression therapy as it is used by New Jersey vein experts to fight vein disease has been around since the 1950s, when the first gradient compression stockings were introduced. The term "gradient compression" refers to the fact that these stockings don't apply a uniform level of compression – they apply the tightest amount of pressure at the ankle, and the pressure then decreases as you continue further up the leg. This decreased pressure causes the blood in subcutaneous (under the skin) tissue to be "squeezed" in an upwards direction towards the heart, which helps to reduce and prevent swelling.

It also helps to press excess fluids back into the capillaries, and prevents fluid from leaking from them. For patients who suffer from chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, gradient compression also reduces the risk that superficial (close to the skin) veins can fill with blood, and become varicose. The compression prevents the congestion that reflux (backwards) flow of blood can cause, and thus helps to prevent pain and discomfort in existing varicose veins, as it helps to prevent new ones from forming.

How do I find out if gradient compression stockings can help me?

Your first step – whether you currently have varicose veins or not – is to make an appointment with a top vein doctor in Bergen County, Dr. John Chuback, and arrange for a venous health screening. These screenings are fast (less than an hour), painless, and non-invasive, but they allow our New Jersey vascular doctor to very accurately determine the current state of your vein health, and whether you are at increased risk of developing CVI and varicose veins. If you are, he can tell you whether medical-grade compression stockings can help you. Call today at 201-693-4847 to get the process started.

Author Bio: Dr. John Chuback, noted NJ Vascular Doctor, explains the differences between compression stockings and compression socks.