The anti-varicose sweater is created to normalize the work of the circulatory system in the lower extremities. Compression underwear exerts a precise design pressure on certain areas of the veins, which, due to their location away from the heart, are at risk of developing pathological venous disorders. Thus, thanks to the wearing of medical footwear, the condition of blood flow is improved, painful sensations, swelling and heaviness in the legs are eliminated. Therefore, if you are at risk of developing varicose veins, have already encountered it, or show signs of impaired venous circulation (due to static loads, pregnancy, a sedentary lifestyle), you should start using underwear. preventive compression in everyday clothing.
Compression underwear for varicose veins
Earlier, for this purpose, phlebologists prescribed elastic bandages. Now this tool is not popular, due to the presence of a number of significant disadvantages: the difficulty of bandaging, an uneven degree of compression, an unaesthetic appearance, a rapid loss of compression properties and, as a result, slipping.
The difference between modern compression underwear is the complete opposite of the above disadvantages:
- ease of use (compared to bandaging) from dressing, dressing to removing underwear;
- 4 compression classes - which allows individual selection of linen with the required level of varicose vein compression;
- made of high-tech materials: linen - from hypoallergenic natural cotton with a high degree of elasticity; socks made of synthetic fiber - nylon, lycra, elastodien, microfiber, which makes it possible to wear skirts and dresses;
- tight fit does not allow clothes to slip;
- long service life of linen, with proper care - from 5 to 12 months (with daily wear).
What is the use of compression footwear? Compression wear creates pressure distributed from the bottom of the legs to the top. Gradual pressure with different force varies from ankle to thigh, in percentage terms this is from 100% to 20% of the internal compression.
Expert opinion
A gradual decrease in the percentage of compression is physiologically justified: with blood flow upward, the load on the venous system decreases. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce the maximum pressure upwards. Due to this principle of action, wearing compression footwear stimulates and normalizes the outflow of blood and lymph to the heart, preventing venous blockage.
Types of compression footwear
How to choose compression underwear for varicose veins and what this or that type of knitwear is used for?
The medical industry offers a fairly large variety of compression underwear. There are compression stockings for women and underwear for the treatment of varicose veins in men. There is also a classification according to certain therapeutic tasks for compression dressing:
- preventive underwear: minimal compression of the lower extremities to eliminate high blood pressure in them;
- medical linen: medium and maximum compression for the treatment of varicose veins;
- postoperative underwear: used in hospitals, the choice of compression stockings is performed by a doctor.
Depending directly on the existing or possible localization of venous disorders of the lower body, you can choose a certain type of medical underwear - compression sweater, knee height or socks.
Compression socks
Socks are mainly recommended for athletes with increased loads for preventive purposes. Wearing compression stockings will reduce the risk of venous disorders and help those who have tried them. When using compression stockings, the blood circulation in the foot is improved and the muscle tone is increased due to the compression directed from the point of the heel and foot area. This type of laundry can be used both during and after prolonged exercise.
Compression joints in the knee
Socks are suitable for preventing and treating varicose veins, provided the varicose veins are located below the knee. Knee heights cover the foot from foot to knee. Their elastic compression characteristics ensure a precise fit to the foot, maintain ankle tone, and are effective in preventing foot strain.
How to choose men's compression stockings? More compression dresses seem to target women. It is a hoax. In terms of design, the knee heights for men are practically no different from ordinary socks, so they should not cause restrictions during the dressing period.
The sizes of such compression garments, such as knee heights, are chosen according to the anatomical profile of the lower extremities.
To do this, you need to make some measurements (in centimeters):
- the circumference of the shin above the ankle and below the knee;
- length from foot to knee.
Compression stockings
It is possible to achieve a therapeutic and prophylactic effect in the fight against pathologies of the venous system with the help of socks. Due to necessity, elastic stockings are sometimes used from varicose veins of increased length: up to the hip area or with a fixation at the waist.
There is a silicone elastic on the inside of the sock. Prevents this compression stocking from slipping. Medical socks with a clasp at the waist are fixed with an elastic band with a contact tape. Such socks are divided into a half pair, there are left and right. There is the possibility of combining mono socks in tights.
This type of socks, as a special compression underwear for feet with varicose veins, has the maximum degree of effectiveness.
Finding the best compression stockings for women and men is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. The range of such underwear in the medical market is quite wide. It takes into account the financial possibilities and preferences for the appearance of freedom. Therefore, it is possible to buy compression stockings according to your wishes, and not just be guided by the doctor's recommendations regarding the therapeutic and prophylactic properties of flax. When making a purchase, it is important to remember that an orthopedic salon or pharmacy that sells compression underwear protects you from buying a fake. Only there can you buy a certified high quality compression product.
Compression stockings for women
The most common type of medical and prophylactic footwear for women is compression sweater, despite the fact that they are quite difficult to wear.
According to which effect is important to achieve, the following types of compression stockings are distinguished: preventive and therapeutic. Elastic preventive tights are selected independently according to parameters such as height and weight. You can buy this compression stocking at pharmacies as well as at regular medical supply stores. In addition to improving the venous system, they have a corrective and slimming effect on the waist, buttocks and thighs.
Expert opinion
If you can choose compression preventative products yourself, then medical compression stockings are chosen exclusively by a doctor. Sweaters, socks and such socks are subject to mandatory medical certification according to RAL-standard-GZ 387 and are available for sale only in medical and pharmacy equipment salons.
The formation includes types of compression tights, varying in texture and color. They are both the most transparent and dense opaque, which allow masking of venous manifestations on the skin. When choosing a model, pay attention to the sock: there are products with open and closed toes.
It is advisable to combine medical compression stockings for varicose veins with the use of local venotonic agents for the feet. Foot cream with horse chestnut extracts and ginkgo biloba is suitable for daily care at home. Due to its natural composition, relieves pain, tones, has anti-inflammatory and cosmetic effect. The cream is applied to the skin of the feet from bottom to top with massaging movements until completely absorbed, 1-2 times a day in the morning before applying the compression dressing and in the evening after removing it. The cream has undergone clinical studies and has been highly praised by phlebologists as an effective aid in the fight against varicose veins of the lower extremities. For outdoor use, a tonic foot spray with butcher extracts and witch hazel is very suitable. Thanks to its lightweight, non-marking formula and comfortable release form, it can be applied on nylon compression tights. Spray it 1-2 times a day from a distance of 15 cm to lightly moisturize the skin. Both products are developed by specialists of a pharmaceutical company and have the necessary documents and quality certificates.
Elastic compression underwear - tights, socks and knee pads, require effort while dressing. Importers it is important to follow the following rules:
- come lying down, after waking up;
- do not stretch or twist the product too much;
- gather the top of the tights and gradually direct them to the bottom of the leg and up.
In order to facilitate the procedure of placing the compression stocking, special equipment is produced for consumers of different categories: overweight, with limited mobility, for passengers (folding design).
How to choose compression socks?
When the question arises how to choose the compression sock, given the size, you should read the information on the package.
Compression coatings are manufactured in full compliance with quality standards. The strictest is the European standard RAL-GZ 387. Its norms regulate:
- composition of compression footwear;
- safety of materials used;
- properties of compression, elasticity, strength of linen produced;
- packaging labeling requirements.
According to these standards, in quality-certified linen packaging, the class of pressure and pressure should be indicated in millimeters of mercury, and not in the cut (as with ordinary socks).
If there is an Oko-Tex® Standard 100 inscription on the linen packaging, it means that this compression garment has been tested by independent institutes that are part of the Oeko-Tex international community. They check fabric samples for pH compliance, formaldehyde content, chlorine-containing substances and the possible presence of heavy metals. Based on the results of a successful inspection, a quality certificate is issued - Oko-Tex® Standard 100.
By buying underwear with the above signs, you can be sure that it is:
- will allow you to achieve a proper therapeutic effect;
- environmentally friendly;
- will serve no less than the service life specified by the manufacturer.
Elastic compression stockings: compression classes for all clothes
According to the degree of pressure generated in the medical elastic knitwear, there are 4 classes of compression, in accordance with the standard RAL-GZ 387.
- Compression class I: has a low (light) preventive pressure (18-21 mm Hg). Indications for wearing Class I compression underwear are: a tendency to develop varicose veins, leg weight, edema, spider veins, pregnancy.
- Compression class II: has average pressure (22-32 mm Hg). This is the compression class most commonly used for medical clothing. Used for the prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis, in the treatment of varicose veins and acute thrombophlebitis.
- Compression class III: exerts strong pressure (33-46 mm Hg). This linen is used for severe lymphovenous insufficiency, trophic pathology, deep vein thrombosis.
- Compression class IV: exerts the highest possible pressure (above 59 mm Hg). Underwear with this class of compression is used for congenital venous abnormalities and to eliminate lymphedema edema with concomitant edema.
Preventive underwear with first-class compression can be purchased independently. But how to choose medical compression underwear with varicose veins already developed can be shown by a doctor. He will explain why you need compression garments in your particular situation.
Compression stockings: how to choose the size
Varicose veins are an irreversible disease that requires treatment. And compression stockings will be for the veins as a supporting frame. Accurate foot measurements will help in choosing the right socks, namely:
- leg-to-knee length;
- the circumference of the shin above the ankle and below the knee;
- thigh circumference at a distance of 25-30 cm from the knee;
- the length of the leg from the leg to the folds of the hips.
Once the phlebologist prescribes linen of the proper compression grade and take measurements, it is important to determine the size of the socks. The range includes a large number of sizes from XS to XLX. Network size may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, the choice of compression garments should be made according to the size chart of a particular manufacturer.
Properly chosen socks will fit snugly on your foot. Maybe at first there will be a feeling of discomfort from wearing medical footwear, but over time it will pass.
How to choose compression tights?
To choose the sweater, in addition to the above measurements, it is necessary to measure the volume of the hips and waist circumference.
Compression pads are produced by many manufacturers. And with varicose veins, I want to figure out which one is better than the rest, so as not to waste precious time and money. Unfortunately, the best compression stockings for varicose veins can only be chosen based on your feelings by wearing such underwear directly.
The peculiarity of tights is that they are chosen strictly according to size, because the area in which they will produce pressure is maximum.
In most cases, the packaging contains information on how to wear the compression tights. Do not neglect these recommendations - they will prolong the life of linen:
- Wear a sweater after waking up or after taking a shower. Important: the skin should be completely dry.
- It is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin - it should be moist and smooth so as not to damage the fibers of compression footwear.
- Compression tights must not be stretched or twisted.
- When placing, fold the top of the tights into an accordion and gradually distribute along the length of the leg, directing the new folds.
Compression tights should be worn throughout the day and removed shortly before bedtime. The duration of use of laundry is determined only by the doctor.
Compression stockings after surgery
The hospital jersey is irreplaceable after surgery. Good compression underwear in the postoperative period of varicose vein treatment can alleviate a number of possible complications. Wearing hospital gowns reduces the risk of congestion and deep vein thrombosis.
The optimal compression pressure for this type of interior is 15-18 mm Hg.
Compression of the recovery underwear is calculated taking into account that the patient will be in a horizontal position. Therefore, this type of underwear is not suitable as everyday compression socks.
The dressing after compression can be matched to any part of the body. The following types of linen can be distinguished:
- knee lift, tights;
- spinal corset;
- fasho.
A distinctive feature of post-operative compression dressings is that they should be worn (not removed) for the first few days. Therefore, hospital underwear should be quite elastic, smooth, hypoallergenic and provide antimicrobial effect.
Women's compression underwear
Basically, under the compression garments of women's hospital, it is customary to understand cosmetic socks. Used after plastic surgery, greatly facilitating and shortening the rehabilitation period. The most common type of such underwear is a body with compression after mammoplasty (Mammoplastica). During the rehabilitation period after surgery to correct the shape of the breast, it is important to wear fixative drawers, which:
- prevents scarring;
- help relieve postoperative bloating;
- reduce pain;
- relieve the feeling of heaviness in the operated area.
The required body compression class is regulated by the fixing elements. Sometimes, along with a compression organ, an additional compression band is used to create maximum compression with postoperative underwear in the necessary areas of the body.
How to choose and how to wear compression clothes for women for a long time is determined by the doctor. Wrongly chosen underwear can damage your body.
Compression underwear for pregnant women
During pregnancy, due to the increased load on the body, the manifestation of symptoms of various diseases is possible. Varicose veins as well. To protect yourself from such manifestations, many pregnant women are advised to wear underwear with preventive and therapeutic compression.
In the first trimester, prophylactic compression stockings are used, mainly knee-high stockings or stockings, which will also protect a woman from leg weight syndrome and swelling.
During pregnancy, holding a brace reduces stress on the spine.
From the second trimester, if indicated, medical freedom is prescribed: bandages, sweater, socks. After giving birth, this type of medical freedom will help you recover faster. Often, the bandage function is assigned to a high elastic insert in the front of the compression stockings. It takes into account the anatomical features of a pregnant woman. Such underwear well supports the stomach and does not tighten it. However, there may be contraindications to wearing such a sweater, so it is advisable to consult your doctor before buying treated underwear.
For pregnant women with varicose veins, a phlebologist recommends the use of compression stockings during childbirth and for a short period after them.