Medical compression stockings are medical devices that are worn on the lower extremities to promote venous blood flow. The compression of the stocking is highest at the ankle and decreases gradually up the leg. In the gastrocnemius (calf belly) the pressure decreases to 70%-90% of the maximum pressure, and in the thigh to 25%-45% of the maximum pressure. This decreasing change of pressure can simulate the muscle pump action of human lower limbs, which can promote the venous blood flow back to the lower limbs, effectively relieving or improving the venous blood stagnation in the lower limbs, so that the clinical symptoms of venous insufficiency can be significantly improved and the leg discomfort caused by venous thrombosis, varicose veins, mild ankle swelling, leg fatigue, pregnancy edema or lymphedema and other related problems can be relieved.
Unlike the nylon stocking material, the elastic stocking is made of a blend of cotton and cotton wool, which is thicker and has both warming effects. The strong compression is the most important feature that distinguishes medical compression stockings from ordinary stockings. It applies a gradient of pressure from the bottom up to the muscle tissue, which then transmits the pressure to the vein with the help of the muscle tissue, promoting venous blood return and improving the symptoms of bruising, thus achieving the purpose of treatment. In addition to varicose veins in the lower extremities that have obvious symptoms, they can also be used by those who only see “little earthworms” crawling up their legs but don’t feel uncomfortable yet, or have only minor symptoms such as soreness. This is because medical compression stockings are effective in relieving symptoms and slowing down or preventing further development of the disease. Pregnant women are also prone to varicose veins, and compression stockings can help to alleviate their pain to some extent. Other people who need to stand for a long time due to their occupation can also wear medical elastic stockings appropriately to prevent varicose veins.
I. What kind of people are suitable to wear these medical elastic stockings?
1.People who stand for a long time: teachers, traffic police, shopping guides, beauticians, doctors, nurses, etc.
2.Long time sitter: IT people, white-collar workers, civil servants and other office workers, long time standing or sitting: because of muscle fatigue and gravity, resulting in poor blood flow back to the legs, blood viscosity increases leading to lower limb venous disease.
3, pregnant women, long-term service, pregnant women, long-term use of contraceptives, pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body, blood volume growth of 20 with contraceptives, pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body, blood volume growth of more than 20%; fetus and enlarged uterus compression of the pelvic veins and iliac veins, pregnancy weight gain, increased venous pressure in the legs, resulting in poor blood return, resulting in lower limb venous disease.
4, frequent business trips, airplanes, long-distance car people, flight attendants, usually called the economy class syndrome, due to the lack of prolonged airplane lower extremity activities caused by poor blood return, resulting in lower extremity venous thrombosis, in serious cases prone to pulmonary embolism.
5, obese people, due to high blood cholesterol and blood lipids, blood viscosity increases, coupled with high weight to make the venous blood difficult to return to the heart, resulting in lower limb venous disease.
6.People who have already suffered from lower limb vein disease, such as venous thrombosis, varicose veins, vascular malformation, because the veins are already in the disease state, must be improved by treatment, otherwise the disease will continue to develop.
7.People with high incidence of lower limb deep vein thrombosis, patients after major surgery, patients with malignant tumor, patients with hemiplegia, women in late pregnancy and maternity, patients with lower limb fracture, patients with serious infection, elderly people and so on.
Second, what is the role of wearing medical elastic stockings?
1.To restore the function of lower limb veins after surgery and prevent the recurrence of varicose veins.
2.Eliminate the edema after various surgeries and promote wound healing.
3.Eliminate the swelling and soreness caused by varicose veins, venous thrombosis and other lower limb venous blood return disorders, so that the darkened and hardened skin gradually turns better and the ulcerated skin heals, preventing further deterioration of the disease.
4.Prevent deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs in long-term bedridden patients.
5.Eliminate lower limb edema of pregnant women in late pregnancy, prevent varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs of women after delivery.
6.Prevent and control economy class syndrome in air travelers.
7.For long time standing, sitting, heavy laborers can reduce lower limb soreness and discomfort to prevent lower limb varicose veins.
8.For beauty lovers. Medical elastic stockings also have the function of leg shaping, avoiding the fat on the legs to droop, and even have a certain role of thin legs.
How to wear and maintain these stockings?
The best time to wear compression stockings is in the morning when you wake up, because the vascular system of your legs is at its maximum function and swelling has not yet occurred.
When putting on or taking off the stockings, be careful not to scratch the stockings with diamonds or long nails.
Please cut your fingernails regularly and prevent skin cracking on your heels in the dry season to avoid scratching your stockings. In addition, you should always check the inside of your shoes to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your stockings and to prolong their life. Wash them in warm water with neutral detergent, do not wring them out, squeeze them by hand or use a dry towel to absorb excess water, and dry them in a cool place, not in the sun or under artificial heat sources. Any high-quality products, only with careful care to extend its service life and achieve the best results.
Fourth, for people with different symptoms choose different compression models of elastic stockings to better play its effectiveness, so how to correctly choose a pair of elastic stockings for yourself?
The best way to choose the right model is to have the circumference of different parts of the leg measured by a professional in a hospital or pharmacy, and then choose the right model according to the doctor’s prescription. The following are examples of the people for whom the various models of compression stockings are suitable, as well as examples of the measurement and purchase of compression stockings.