Nurses work long hours, shuffling back and forth from patient to patient, making sure that everyone’s needs are attended to, seldom finding the time to sit down and take a much-needed break. Since they spend so much time on their feet, swollen, achy legs, feet, and ankles are common ailments among nurses. Fortunately, there’s a simple tool that these health care superstars can alleviate their discomfort: compression socks.
From minimizing aim to preventing swelling, compression socks can be an invaluable tool in a nurse’s toolkit so that they can continue to press on tending to the needs of their patients. In fact, many nurses won’t go a shift without sporting their compression socks. But why? How does this therapeutic hosiery help nurses? Whether you’re a nurse yourself or you’re looking for a gift that a special nurse in your life would most certainly appreciate, read on to find out how and why compression socks are so important for these health care professionals.
Compression Socks for Nurses
Most nurses spend long hours standing on their feet. The impact of these long stretches of standing and walking can not only lead to fatigue, but it can also cause swelling and pain in the legs; not to mention secondary effects, such as the development of varicose veins. All of these factors, combined with the long list of demands and no room for error that come along with this profession, can easily lead to high levels of mental, emotional, and physical stress. No wonder why so many nurses complain about being burnt out.
Painful, swollen legs, feet, and ankles only add to the stress of the job. That’s exactly why so many nurses wear compression socks. But why? In short, it’s because this specialized therapeutic apparel is a simple and effective way to address the swelling, aching, and soreness in the legs, ankles, and feet that so many of these health care professionals face, while also promoting better circulating and combating fatigue. Furthermore, compression stockings may also help to prevent the development of certain health issues that often plague people who work in high-stress, physically taxing professions, such as varicose veins and blood clots, while also helping to maintain the physical appeal of the legs.
When used appropriately (the proper size and level of pressure), compression stockings can be a lifesaver for nurses. In fact, many nurses won’t go through a shift without them.
Why are Compression Socks Good for Nurses?
There are several reasons why compression stockings are beneficial for nurses. Some of the most notable benefits that this therapeutic hosiery provides include the following:
Compression socks are also a fun way for nurses to add a bit of their personal taste and some fun flair to their otherwise bland, mundane uniforms.
Why Nurses Should Wear Compression Socks
Whether you’re a nurse yourself or someone you love is a nurse, here’s a look at some great reasons why these health care rock stars should sport compression socks.
Reduced pain and soreness
Numerous studies have found that compression socks are an effective way to reduce pain and soreness in the legs, feet, and ankles. This is particularly true for those who spend long hours standing on their feet. Standing places pressure on the bottom half of the body and puts strain on the veins, tissues, and muscles on the legs, feet, and ankles, which can minimize circulation. Compression socks have been proven to promote circulation, which increases the amount of oxygen flowing throughout the body, and increased oxygen levels can help to keep pain and soreness at bay. Furthermore, the pressure that compression stockings place on the legs helps to minimize the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles, which also helps to prevent the development of pain and soreness.
A lot of nurses who use compression stockings have reported that they have experienced a notable reduction in the discomfort they experience; not only in their legs, feet, and ankles, but throughout their bodies. In fact, they have reported that they noticed a marked reduction in pain and soreness almost immediately. Thanks to the increased comfort that compression socks provide, nurses will have a much easier time working through their long shifts. They also find that their performance increases, as they aren’t distracted by the discomfort that they would otherwise experience, allowing them to focus on their patients even more.
Swelling prevention
When you’re standing and walking around, you’re fighting against gravity. Since nurses are on their feet more than they sit down, they are constantly battling with this powerful force. Gravity pulls down on the body, and as a result, the body can succumb to the pressure, which can lead to the accumulation of fluids in the legs, ankles, and feet.
Since compression socks help to promote better circulation, they can be a powerful tool for combating the effects of gravity, which in turn can help to prevent the build-up of fluid in the lower extremities, thus preventing swelling.
Varicose vein prevention
Whether you already have varicose veins and you want to prevent them from worsening, or you’re concerned that spending long hours on your feet will lead to the development of varicose veins in the future, compression socks may be able to help you combat those unsightly and painful veins, as well as the potential health complications that they can cause.
Standing for such long hours over extended periods of time dilates the veins in the legs. Blood can accumulate in those dilated veins, which can lead to the development of purplish-blue bulging veins. Nurses are prone to developing varicose veins, as they are on their feet for so long, and as such, their veins have to fight against gravity in order to circulate blood back up to the heart, which can lead to varicose veins. Compression socks secure weakened veins and enhance circulation, helping to prevent the development of varicose veins. For nurses who already suffer from varicose veins, compression stockings can support the blood vessels, and reduce the painful, uncomfortable side effects – and the unsightly appearance – of bulging varicose veins.