Runners, cyclists, travelers, and work-from-home warriors alike can all benefit from the healing effects of compression socks. Tired legs? Uncomfortable swelling? It’s likely due to blood circulation, which is heavily affected by your activity — or lack thereof. Compression socks were created as a medical garment to address these issues by providing gentle pressure to the legs and ankles that helps arteries relax and blood flow more freely. This, in turn, promotes proper circulation back up to the heart, reducing painful swelling. That’s why compression socks are often knee-high in length (and a bit more involved to wear) — to help as much of the leg as possible through graduated compression.
How To Put Compression Socks On
Begin by sitting in a comfortable position where it’s easy to reach your feet. Remove any jewelry that could snag on the sock.
Take a sock and put your hand inside of it so that the heel of the sock matches up with the heel of your hand (almost like you’re making a sock puppet).
Invert the length of the sock and pull it over the heel, turning the fabric inside out in the process. Don’t pull it completely inside out though, just up to the toes.
You’ll be left with a partially inside-out sock with an opening like a cave.
Put your foot in the opening of the cave, matching the heel of the sock with your own heel.
Pull the length of the sock back over your foot (putting the fabric right side out) and up your calf, smoothing any wrinkles as you go.
How To Take Compression Socks Off
Sit in a comfortable position where it’s easy to reach your feet. Remove any jewelry that could snag on the sock.
Hold the fabric at the top of the sock on each side of your leg. Slowly invert it down your leg, like you’re peeling a banana.
Continue to roll the sock down and remove it inside out. Alternatively, you can stop rolling at the ankle and instead pull outward from the toe to remove the sock the rest of the way.
If you find gripping is difficult, try wearing gloves for extra support.
Take your time as you get used to the process. Eventually, it shouldn’t take you more than a minute to get your compression socks on or off properly!