Anti-varicose veins are designed to normalize the work of the circulatory system in the lower extremities. Compression underwear puts precisely designed pressure on certain areas of the veins, which, due to their location away from the heart, are at risk of developing pathological venous disorders. Therefore, thanks to wearing underwear, blood circulation is improved, the feeling of pain, swelling and heaviness in the legs is eliminated. So, if you are at risk for varicose veins, you already have it, or you have signs of impaired venous circulation (due to static loads, pregnancy, sedentary lifestyle), you should startUse preventive compression underwear in everyday wear.
Compression underwear for varicose veins
Previously, for this purpose, veniologists prescribed elastic bandages. This tool is not very popular at present, due to a number of significant disadvantages: difficulty in dressing, uneven degree of compression, unsightly appearance, rapid loss of compression properties, and as a result slippage.
The difference between modern compression underwear is exactly the opposite of the above disadvantages:
- ease of use (compared to bandages) from putting on, putting on to undressing;
- 4 compression classes - allows to select each type of linen with the required degree of compression of varicose veins;
- made of high-tech materials: linen - from hypoallergenic natural cotton with high elasticity; knitwear made of synthetic fibers - nylon, lycra, elastodien, microfiber, can be worn with skirts and tunics;
- tight fit that doesn't let the laundry slip off;
- long service life of linen, with proper care - from 5 to 12 months (with everyday clothes).
What is the use of compression underwear? The compression garment creates pressure that is distributed from the bottom of the foot to the top. The pressure splits by strength vary from ankle to thigh, as a percentage, this is between 100% and 20% of the compression exerted by underwear.
Expert opinion
The gradual decrease in the percentage of compression is physiologically reasonable: with increased blood flow, the load on the venous system decreases. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the maximum pressure upwards. Due to this principle of action, wearing compression underwear stimulates and normalizes the flow of blood and lymph to the heart, preventing venous congestion.
Types of compression underwear
How to choose compression underwear for varicose veins and what is this or that type of knitwear used for?
The medical industry offers a sizable assortment of compression underwear. There are compression knitwear for women and underwear to treat varicose veins in men. There is also a classification according to the treatment tasks assigned to compression garments:
- 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 the hospital, the selection of compression knitwear is done by the doctor.
Depending directly on the existing or possible varicose veins in the lower body, you can choose a certain type of medical underwear - tights, knee high socks or stockings.
Compression socks
Socks are primarily recommended for athletes with increased running loads for the sake of prevention. Wearing compression stockings will reduce the risk of varicose veins and help people who have experienced them. During the use of compression stockings, blood circulation in the feet is improved and muscle tone is increased because the compression is directed at the point of the heel and the foot area. This type of laundry can be used both during and after long-term use.
Knee-high compression
Stockings are suitable for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins, provided the veins are below the knee. Knee-high covers the leg from foot to knee. Their elastic compression properties ensure a precise fit on the foot, maintain ankle tension and are effective in preventing heaviness in the foot.
How to choose high compression knee for men? Many compression garments seem to be aimed at women. It is an illusion. In terms of design, men's knee-high socks are practically no different from ordinary socks, so they do not cause restraint during wear.
The sizes of such compression garments, such as knee-length trousers, are selected in accordance with the anatomical structure of the lower extremities.
To do this, you need to take several measurements (in centimeters):
- shin circumference above the ankle and below the knee;
- length from foot to knee.
Compression socks
A therapeutic and prophylactic effect in the fight against pathologies of the venous system can be achieved with the help of stockings. Out of necessity, elastic socks against varicose veins are sometimes used with increased length: up to the groin area or with ties at the waist.
There is a silicone elastomer on the inside of the sock. It prevents this compression knitwear from slipping. Medical stockings with ties at the waist are secured with an elastic band with contact tape. Such socks are divided into half pairs, there are left and right. Ability to combine single socks into tights.
This stocking, as a special compression panty for varicose legs, has the maximum level of effectiveness.
Finding the best compression socks for women and men is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The range of such underwear on the medical market is quite wide. It takes into account financial possibilities and preferences for the appearance of linen. Thus, you can purchase compression stockings that suit your desires and not only be guided by your doctor's recommendations on the therapeutic and prophylactic properties of linen. When making a purchase, it's important to remember that an orthopedic salon or pharmacy that sells compression underwear protects you from buying a fake. Only there you can purchase a certified high-quality compression product.
Compression tights for women phụ
The most common type of prophylactic and medical underwear for women are compression tights, despite the fact that they are quite difficult to put on.
According to the important effect to be achieved, the following types of compression tights are distinguished: prevention and treatment. Spare elastic tights are independently selected according to parameters such as height and weight. You can buy this compression knitwear at both pharmacies and general medical supply stores. In addition to improving the venous system, they have a regulating and slimming effect on the waist, buttocks and thighs.
Expert opinion
If you are able to choose preventive compression products on your own, medical compression knits are selected exclusively by a doctor. Such tights, stockings and stockings are subject to the required medical certification according to RAL-standard-GZ 387 and may only be sold in medical device stores and pharmacies.
The product line includes compression stockings that vary in texture and color. They are both transparent and densest opaque substances, allowing the appearance of veins on the skin to be concealed. When choosing a model, pay attention to the sock: there are products with open and closed toes.
Medical compression knitting for varicose veins should be combined with the use of local venous antidotes for the legs. Foot cream with horse chestnut and ginkgo extracts is suitable for daily care at home. Due to its natural composition, it relieves pain, soothes the skin, has anti-inflammatory and cosmetic effects. The cream is applied to the skin of the legs from the bottom up with massaging movements until fully absorbed, 1-2 times a day in the morning before putting on compression clothes and at night after taking off. The cream has undergone clinical studies and is highly regarded by vein specialists as an effective adjuvant in the fight against varicose veins of the lower extremities. For use outside of the home, a foot supplement with butcher and witch hazel comes in handy. Thanks to its lightweight, non-marking formula and comfortable release form, it can be applied over nylon compression stockings. Spray 1-2 times daily from a distance of 15 cm to lightly moisturize the skin. Both products are developed by experts of a pharmaceutical company and have the necessary documents and quality certificates.
Compression stretch undergarments - knee-high socks, stockings, and tights that require some effort to put on. It is important to adhere to the following rules:
- put in a lying position, after waking up;
- do not stretch or twist the product excessively;
- Gather the top of the pants, and gradually straighten them toward the bottom leg upwards.
To facilitate the process of ordering compression knitwear, special devices are produced for consumers of different categories: overweight, restricted in movement, for tourists (possible designs). collapse).
How to choose compression knitwear?
When the question arises about how to choose compression knitwear, given the size, you need to read the information on the packaging.
Compression garments are manufactured to strict quality standards. The most stringent is the European standard RAL-GZ 387. Its standards prescribe:
- composition of compression underwear;
- safety of the materials used;
- the characteristics of compression, elasticity, strength of the manufactured linen;
- packaging labeling requirements.
According to these standards, on the packaging of certified linen, the degree of compression and pressure must be indicated in millimeters of mercury and not in face value (as with ordinary socks).
If the words Oko-Tex® Standard 100 appear on the packaging of the linen, it means that this compression garment has been tested by independent institutes of the international Oeko-Tex community. They test fabric samples for pH compliance, formaldehyde content, chlorine-containing substances and the possible presence of heavy metals. Based on the successful test results, a quality certificate is issued - Oko-Tex® Standard 100.
By buying underwear with the above markings, you can be sure that it is:
- will allow you to achieve the appropriate therapeutic effect;
- Environmental friendliness;
- shall serve no less than the life specified by the manufacturer.
Elastic compression knits: compression layers for all garments
According to the degree of pressure generated in medical elastomer knitwear, 4 compression layers are distinguished, in accordance with the RAL-GZ 387 standard.
- Compression class I: has low (light) containment pressure (18-21 mm Hg). Indications for wearing compression underwear type I are: tendency to varicose veins, heaviness in the legs, edema, spider veins, pregnancy.
- Compression level II: medium pressure (22-32 mm Hg). This is the most commonly used compression layer for medical garments. It is used for the prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis, in the treatment of varicose veins and acute thrombophlebitis (Thrombophlebitis).
- Compression grade III: strong pressure (33-46 mm Hg). This linen is used for severe lymphatic insufficiency, nutritional pathologies, deep vein thrombosis.
- Compression class IV: produces the highest possible pressure (above 59 mm Hg). Underwear with this compression layer is used for congenital malformations of the veins and to eliminate lymphedema accompanied by edema.
Spare underwear with the first compression layer can be purchased independently. But how to choose medical compression underwear with already developed veins can only be told by the doctor. He will explain why you need compression clothing in your particular situation.
Compression socks: how to choose a size
Varicose veins are an irreversible disease that requires treatment. And compression stockings will be for the veins as a support. Accurate foot measurements will help choose the right socks, namely:
- leg-to-knee length;
- shin circumference 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 foot to the inguinal fold.
After the phlebologist prescribes the appropriate compression fabric and takes measurements, it is important to determine the size of the sock. The range covers a large number of sizes from XS to XLX. Mesh size may vary by manufacturer. Therefore, the selection of compression garments must be made in accordance with the size chart of a particular manufacturer.
Properly chosen socks will hug your feet snugly. Maybe at first there will be a feeling of discomfort because of wearing underwear but over time it will pass.
How to choose compression stockings?
To choose tights, in addition to the above measurements, it is necessary to measure the volume of the hip and waist circumference.
Compression garments are produced by many manufacturers. And with varicose veins, I want to understand which is better than the other, so as not to waste precious time and money. Unfortunately, the best compression knit fabric for varicose veins can only be chosen based on how you feel when you wear the underwear in person.
The peculiarity of tights is that they are strictly selected by size, since the area in which they will create pressure is maximum.
In most cases, the packaging contains information on how to wear compression stockings. Do not ignore these recommendations - they will prolong the life of linen:
- Wear tights after waking up or after taking a shower. Important: the skin must be completely dry.
- It is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin - it must be moisturized and smooth so as not to damage the fibers of the compression underwear.
- Compression stockings should not be stretched or twisted.
- When you put them on, draw the top of the tights in an accordion style and spread them along the length of the leg, straightening the emerging folds.
Compression stockings should be worn all day and taken off just before bedtime. The duration of use of laundry is determined only by the doctor.
Compression of knitwear after surgery
The hospital gown is irreplaceable after surgery. Good compression underwear during the post-operative period after varicose vein surgery can reduce some of the possible complications. Wearing a hospital gown reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis and obstruction.
The optimal compression pressure for this type of underwear is 15-18 mm Hg.
The compression of the restorative underwear is calculated taking into account that the patient will be in a horizontal position. Therefore, this type of underwear is not suitable for daily pressing knitwear.
Postoperative compression garments can fit any part of the body. The following types of linen can be distinguished:
- knee-length tights, tight pants;
- spinal cardigan;
- bandage.
A distinctive feature of compression garments after surgery is that they must be worn (not taken off) for the first few days. Therefore, hospital underwear should be highly elastic, seamless, hypoallergenic and provide an antibacterial effect.
Compressed women's underwear
Basically, under women's compression hospital bed linen, it's common practice to understand aesthetic knitwear. It is used after plastic surgery, greatly facilitating and shortening the rehabilitation period. The most common such type of underwear is the mammoplastica bra. During rehabilitation after surgery to correct the shape of the breast, it is important to wear compression underwear, which is:
- prevent scarring;
- help reduce puffiness after surgery;
- pain relief;
- reduce the feeling of heaviness in the surgical area.
The required level of compression of the lapel is regulated by the pins. Sometimes, along with a compression bra, an additional compression belt is used to provide maximum compression with post-surgery underwear on needed areas of the body.
How to choose and how to wear compression clothing for women for a long time is determined by the doctor. Improperly chosen underwear can harm your body.
Compression underwear for pregnant women
During pregnancy, due to the increased body load, symptoms of various diseases can be manifested. Same goes for varicose veins. To protect themselves from such manifestations, many pregnant women are advised to wear preventive and therapeutic compression underwear.
During the first trimester, the use of prophylactic knitted fabrics, mainly knee high socks or stockings, will also protect the woman from severe leg syndrome and edema.
During pregnancy, wearing a brace helps reduce stress on the spine.
From the second trimester, if indicated, medical fabrics are prescribed: bandages, tights, stockings. After giving birth, this medical towel will help you recover faster. Usually, the function of the bandage is assigned to a high elastic insert on the front of compression tights. It takes into account the anatomical features of a pregnant woman. Such underwear well supports the stomach and does not compress. However, there may be contraindications to wearing such a shirt, so you should consult your doctor before buying medicated underwear.
For pregnant women with varicose veins, phlebologists recommend compression stockings during delivery and for a short time afterward.