Compression socks

Given the international nature of the world these days, traveling from country to country has become a necessity for some people, flights between distant countries such as America and Australia can mean having to put up with a 22 hour flight. In addition to the annoyance of having to sit in a seat for 22 hours there is also the health risk that this places on the traveler. The risk of deep vein thrombosis on long haul flights is very real and can be significantly reduced by the use of compression socks, provided that the socks are worn in the correct fashion the traveler should feel safe in the knowledge that the chance of them getting DVT is significantly reduced. This article seeks to point out the features and benefits of compression socks, as well is letting the reader know a bit of the history, and the right way of wearing these socks.

When traveling on long haul flights it’s not uncommon to see someone wearing knee-high socks, these usually come in skin colored or sometimes black material. What you would have been seeing are travel compression socks which are designed to increase the rate of blood flow within the lower limbs. Originally flight socks were made strictly by medical companies, however recently sports clothing companies have taken notice of the benefits compression clothing can provide, so now you are able to purchase compression socks from many sources. The tightness and construction of compression garments can vary depending on the manufacturer so it is important to ensure that you are wearing the right sock to reduce your chance of deep vein thrombosis.

In order to reduce the chance of deep-vein thrombosis compression socks are rated in terms of how many mmHg pressure they apply to the leg area. Ideally for travel you want a sock that is able to apply 10 to 20 mmHg of pressure to the whole leg area, this will ensure that blood flows quickly through the veins. In order to pick out the correct sizing yourself, you want a sock which is difficult to put on but once it is on feels comfortable. When the sock is on your calf muscle it should be difficult to pinch any additional material, if this is the case then you know you have the right fit. As you have probably been able to see getting the right fit when it comes to travel socks is incredibly important in reducing the chance of DVT, although compression socks are great for this, travelers should also use their common sense and stretch their legs regularly as well as drinking plenty of fluids during long flights.