Standing all day and being on your feet for prolonged periods of time can cause pain in the muscles of the legs, neck, and back. According to studies, being on your feet for extended periods reduces the blood supply to your muscles. As a result, it contributes to lower-limb muscle fatigue and inflammation of the veins. Nurses, as one of the professionals who work all day standing on their feet, are prone to this kind of pain. Hence, in this guide, we created a list of the best compression socks for nurses.
What Are Compression Socks?
Compression socks, also known as compression stockings, are common among nurses. They are designed for compression therapy. The stockings are stretchable and bring extra comfort to a person's feet and legs.
Moreover, the inflammation may progress and result in chronic and painful varicose veins. Varicose veins mean twisted and enlarged veins. Nurses may feel pain and have a heavy feeling in their legs. They can also notice muscle cramping and swelling in the same area.
Wearing compression stockings promotes blood flow from the legs to the heart. These compression socks can help reduce pain and swelling. Hence, nurses are advised to wear compression socks while on duty.
How Do These Socks Work and How Do You Put These On?
Wearing compression socks promotes blood circulation and reduces pain, and prevents the formation of blood clots. By applying pressure to your legs and ankles, they help reduce pain and improve blood circulation.
Moreover, the inflammation may progress and result in chronic and painful varicose veins. Varicose veins mean twisted and enlarged veins. Nurses may feel pain and have a heavy feeling in their legs. They can also notice muscle cramping and swelling in the same area.
Wearing compression socks promotes blood flow from the legs to the heart. These compression socks can help reduce swelling. Hence, nurses are advised to wear compression socks while on duty.
Why Are Compression Socks Great for Nurses?
Being on their feet all day, nurses are more likely to experience leg fatigue specially when wearing regular socks. The nature of their job calls for a need for compression socks. Considering how beneficial and helpful these stockings are, one whose job involves extended periods of standing and moving should think about wearing them at work. Doctors recommend compression socks depending on one's needs.
These benefits answer the question of why do nurses wear compression socks at work.
There are many reasons why compression socks are great for nurses. Take a look at the list of some of the benefits of wearing compression socks.
1. It Improves Your Blood Circulation
Compression socks can help improve blood circulation. They provide graduated pressure to keep blood flow. Standing for long hours might be bad for legs. And it can cause blood pooling.
Blood pooling is the building up of blood in the veins after muscles stop contracting against blood vessels. It could lead to venous insufficiency, which occurs when veins don't allow blood flow. Therefore, it could cause swelling and pain in someone's legs and ankles. Other effects of blood pooling include a feeling of heaviness, thickening of the skin on the legs and ankles, and leg cramps.
Good blood circulation is essential to health because it is a bodily function. Our bodies are being supplied with enough oxygen and nutrients. Meanwhile, having poor blood circulation can be harmful to health. There are fatal consequences when not given attention. In fact, it can affect or harm the brain, heart, and kidney.
2. It Helps Prevent Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Veins in the legs are built to flow one way. But because of poor blood circulation, blood pooling may happen. It causes pressure on the veins. Worse, it can also cause malfunction of the valves. It may result in varicose veins and spider veins. As a result, veins will darken because of the blood pooling.
Varicose veins that can be blue or red are enlarged veins. They may also appear as twisted veins. Though they don't cause many problems as to your health, you would probably feel heavy and tired. Also, varicose veins are slightly noticeable. You may even be more conscious about how they look.
If left untreated, it may lead to complications like blood clots, rashes, infections, and bleeding. if you have swollen feet and legs, you may expect it to be more severe due to some complications.
Furthermore, compression socks are made to help in preventing varicose veins and spider veins. They keep valves in the right position. Thus, healthy blood circulation in the legs during long shifts is ensured.
3. It Helps Reduce Swelling
Aside from varicose veins and spider veins, standing or sitting without much movement may cause swelling. To see the results, regular use of compression socks is needed. Reduction of swelling may take a few days.
The very reason for swelling has something to do with gravity. When sitting or standing for many hours during the day, gravity will pull down your blood. Hence, your blood will concentrate on your legs or lower body.
What compression socks do is not allow your skin to expand because of tight fabrics. Also, it is advisable to wear compression socks in the morning. It will be best to put them on that early to make sure that they reduce swelling and provide the most benefits. That's why it's important to get yourself the best compression socks available.
4. It Improves Health and Well-Being
Having healthy blood circulation may help a person achieve improved well-being. The body will be able to deliver the nutrients to the different parts of the body. Allowing them to function properly.
A pair of the best compression socks for nurses may greatly help them to achieve this goal of sustaining a healthy body. Their job requires them to have strength when carrying out different tasks in the hospital. They need to make sure that their health is being taken care of and given attention too.
Compression socks are made to help them make these things possible. Nurses spend long hours in a standing position on their feet while on duty, they are most likely to experience swelling and pain in the legs and feet. But those are not just ordinary effects of constantly standing, they may lead to serious complications. That is the reason why compression socks are best in helping medical practitioners, especially nurses.
5. It Supports Muscles and Joints
Daily work can be very exhausting. Nurses may suffer from pain and aging muscles and joints. Therefore, they need additional support in their work in the hospital. They will be walking, running, or moving around all day. In some cases, they need to stand when attending operations.
Compression socks assist muscles and joints. They are very essential to nurses for their long hour duties.
The 6 Best Compression Socks for Nurses
It's great to learn the benefits of wearing compression socks first when you consider buying these items. Now, you can appreciate how it contributes to one's health and well-being. Knowing the purpose and benefits allows you to make wise decisions as to your purchase. To help you look for the right one, here's a list of the best compression socks for nurses.
1. Copper Compression Socks
These copper compression socks provide comfort while improving circulation. It is good for 12-hour shifts to avoid pain in your calves. The socks are made with nylon. They have unique properties to ward off odor. You can wear them during your 12-hour shifts without worrying about how it might smell.
The fabric or material used will keep your skin dry and comfortable. The product's fabric is breathable and moisture-wicking. The temperature in the hospital might get cold so you'll need these comfy socks to keep your feet warm. They are best for your long night shifts.
If you have a friend or a loved one who works as a nurse, these are some of the best nurse compression socks. They help reduce injuries and enhance the circulation of your blood from your brain all the way to your feet.
Moreover, copper is known as a great conductor of electricity. The copper fibers are reviving circulation along with a 20-30 mmHg compression. Whether a person stands or sits for a long time at work, these socks are perfect for them.
The socks come in different colors; there are a variety of choices available. Based on your preference, you can choose what assortment you want to purchase. That is because the socks come in three packs. They all provide high quality and durability.
Compression socks have four sizes for both men and women. You can choose depending on the size of your feet. The compression socks' variations for men include Small to Medium for 6-9 shoe size. Then, Large to Extra Large sizes for 10-13 shoe sizes.
Ladies can choose from Small to Medium size if their shoe size is 6-10. While Large to Extra Large corresponds to 11-5.5 shoe size.
For the calf size, 12-20 calf size and 14-23 are available for Small-Medium and Large to Extra Large variations, respectively.
If you need an extraordinary sock best for long-term use, this can be the best option. Most importantly, they provide true graduated compression to support your legs.
2. Physix Compression Socks
Physix compression socks are made in 70% Nylon and 30% Spandex. Nylon is a very durable and strong material. Meanwhile, spandex is a synthetic fiber that is soft and smooth.
This pair of socks has quick dry breathable fabric, true graduated compression, and antibacterial material. Aside from the excellent quality, this compression sock is fashionable and comes in different colors. The style is amazingly stunning and perfect for any color of scrub or attire. Also, its moisture-wicking properties allow rapid air drying.
Now, you can have quality socks that you can wear confidently. The designs are long-lasting. They will not easily fade due to regular wash. And the quality and benefits they give will still be the same after every wash. They are for long-term use so you can keep their excellent vascular toning benefits.
There are different sizes available too. They come in three different sizes: UK, USA, and EU.
Women’s USA size includes small to medium (5.5-8.5 shoe size), large to extra-large (8-12.5 shoe size), and double extra-large (10-15 shoe size).
For UK size, the right fit can be chosen from small to medium (3.5-6.5 shoe size), large to extra-large (6-10.5 shoe size), and double extra-large (8-13 shoe size).
Then for EU size, you can choose from small to medium (36-40 shoe size), large to extra-large (39-45 shoe size), and double extra-large (41.5-48).
The USA sizes for men also include small to medium (5-9 shoe size), large to extra-large (8-14 shoe size), and double extra-large (11-17 shoe size).
As to UK size for men: small to medium (4.5-8.5 shoe size), large to extra-large (7.5-13.5 shoe size), and double extra-large (11-17 shoe size) are available.
Men’s EU size includes small to medium (37.5-42.5 shoe size), large to extra-large (41.5-49 shoe size), and double extra-large (46-53 shoe size)
These are not your normal socks, they do a lot to help you keep moving. They boost circulation and help you to recover from swollen feet and legs.
3. Wanderlust Compression Socks
Wanderlust nursing compression socks provide the perfect amount of true graduated compression along with 20-30 mmHG at feet and ankles, 15-20 at legs and calves, and 10-15 under the knee.
You will surely love these compression socks that improve your performance and endurance. It is exceptional as compared to other compression socks because they were produced with extra comfortable cuffs to keep the stockings high and secure. Despite that, you will not feel that they are too tight.
They also have a special weave design and large heel compartment to ensure that you feel comfortable while wearing them. The toe enclosure is designed too to prevent annoying friction and blisters.
For women’s sizes, small, medium, and large are available. Shoe size of 5 -5.5, 6-9.5, and 6.95 for each size, respectively. While men’s sizes are 5-7, 7.5-11, and 7.5-11 for each size, respectively.
With corresponding 10.5-14 inches, 14-17 inches, and 18-19.5 inches calf circumference for small, medium, and large sizes, respectively.
This compression sock is proven to promote blood flow and reduce swelling and fatigue - the best pick for nurses who spend long hours of duty. Not just that, it also gives increased stamina, support, and endurance for you to execute your duties without any pain on your feet.
4. Rockay Vigor Graduated Compression Socks
When purchasing a product, it's best to know what it is made of. The durability and quality of the material are the primary considerations. But these socks are not only guaranteed to have the best quality. It is made of 100% recycled materials. In short, buying it would mean support to advocacy for the environment.
Let's talk about how helpful they are to our nature. Producers collect old fishing nets and other wastes from the ocean and use those to produce a premium regenerated Nylon yarn. From there, they create durable and high-end compression socks. In fact, for every purchase of 1 pair of Rockay Vigor Graduated Compression Socks, it is equivalent to 22 bottles removed from the ocean.
Those are amazing facts that we rarely know when we buy a certain product. Small details are important too and they have an influence on our buying decisions.
Going back to the quality of the socks, they are excellent in ensuring that your calves are stable. They work well on reducing muscle tears. Besides, they provide 16-23 mmHg compression.
The socks' moisture-wicking fabric regulates your body heat.
Moreover, the socks have anti-odor and performance cushioning. They are perfect for your feet. You can wear them for how many hours and they'll not smell foul.
There are a variety of sizes to choose from depending on your calf size. To choose the correct size, here's the exact centimeter and inch for each size: SS, 29-33 cm or 11.4-13 inches; SM, 34-38 cm or 13.1-15 inches; and ML, 39-43 cm or 15.1-17 inches.
They are very cute nurse compression socks and they come in different colors such as black/blue, black/lime, eco white, orange/white, and purely blue.
They are well-made and great socks best for nurses.
5. NEWZILL Compression Socks
These compression socks provide 20-30 mmHg compression. The socks are made of 15% Lycra, 65% Nylon, and 20% Spandex. Hence, they are of good quality.
The socks come in different colors too. You can choose from black, Carolina blue, gray, purple, and pink. You can also purchase these socks as a set. A set has three pairs with different designs and colors.
The socks have a four-way stretch moisture-wicking fabric that allows for maximum breathability, reliable temperature, and unmatched comfort.
The professionals that should try this product are those who are in the medical field, specifically, nurses. The socks are easy to pull on. You can wash them and still expect them to be comfortable and effective. And they are one of those cute nursing compression socks you'd love to wear.
Nurses may experience having swollen feet, fatigue, and pain because of standing all day. With regards to that, Newzill compression socks are designed to control swelling through enhanced circulation and to minimize muscle oscillation.
There are small, medium, and large sizes available. For women, they can choose according to their foot size such as the following: small, 6-8.5; medium, 9-11; and large, 11.5-13. While for men sizes available are: small, 5-7.5; medium, 8-10; and large 10.5-12.
6. HOYISOX Plus Size Compression Socks
Hoyisox plus size compression socks for nurses provide 20-30 mmHg graduated compression. They reduce the build-up of lactic acid, help blood flow, and gives relief from painful legs.
They come in large calves plus sizes such as 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL. These are compression socks for plus size nurses. These are intended to give full benefits and protection for plus size nurses.
The materials used in producing this product are durable and comfortable. The socks are 35% Nylon, 10% Rayon, 30% Cotton, and 25% Spandex.
Some compression socks are too tight and uncomfortable, but this plus size compression socks has a single-layer cuff that fits better and gives unmatched comfort.
Things To Consider When Choosing the Best Compression Stockings for Nurses
1. Knowing What Materials are Used
In choosing the right stocking, one should know what these socks are made of. There are different materials used and they may not give the same and equal benefits, but they can still meet the expectations.
Middleweight Materials
First, there are middleweight materials which are suitable both for men and women. These are ideal for helping your feet to recover from swelling, varicose veins, and pain. Commonly, this type of material is used by different brands.
Sheer Fabrics
Second, some manufacturers use sheer fabrics. These are very fashionable and lightweight. But unlike middleweight materials, sheer fabrics are less likely to give much containment for certain kinds of swelling.
Sport Materials
Third, different manufacturers choose sports material to ensure high-quality products. By nature, sports materials are more durable as compared to other kinds of fabrics. They are for lower-level compression levels such as 15-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg.
Choosing the right material depends on your needs too. If your situation needs higher compression, the middleweight materials are the most recommended.
2. Breathability
Wearing compression socks give many health benefits. However, as much as we want to wear them, it is important to consider if they are comfortable to wear. Therefore, you should choose a compression sock that is breathable, lightweight and not too tight.
To achieve this, cotton is highly considered a breathable fiber therefore, if you're working long hours, it's best to wear socks made from this material.
3. Compression Levels
Compression levels will depend upon a person’s condition. Doctors will prescribe certain compression levels in different instances.
They are indicated using “milliliters of mercury” as a unit of measurement. The same measurement is used in blood pressure.
4. Choosing the Right Fit
Companies or manufacturers provide different sizes for your foot. If you are placing an order online, you have to make sure that you know your foot size and the size chart of the compression sock that you want to buy.
You also have to choose the right socks that correspond to your calf circumference to get the most appropriate size and to avoid purchasing too tight socks for the feet and calves.
5. Color, Patterns and Style
Buyers primarily consider quality when buying a product. But for many, it is also important that the product looks fashionable and attractive on their feet.
This criterion actually depends on a person’s preference. There are various choices available for compression socks. There are compression socks that have different styles and designs. Choosing the color, pattern, and style will depend mostly on the buyer’s discretion.
Conclusion
Compression socks for nursing serve the same purpose regardless of the brand. They are usually intended to improve blood circulation. When choosing the best nursing compression socks, quality and durability are the primary focus. But if you are meticulous in buying compression socks, you will notice differences among various options.
Compression socks can help a lot in many ways. That is why it is very important to know if the materials, size, and compression are appropriate for your feet and legs. In connection to that, all of the enumerated items above are guaranteed as to quality and durability.
However, we believe the best compression socks for nurses would be the Rockay Vigor Graduated Compression Socks. Among all the options, these compression socks are not just made of commonly used materials. These are exceptional due to the advocacy behind them. You can help yourself sustain a strong and healthy body while helping a company in cleaning the environment.