Compression Socks and Stockings in Toronto

Our legs are an essential part of the overall musculoskeletal system. They help us move around and perform minor to extreme physical activities. Due to underlying conditions, overuse, surgery, and other factors, the legs’ circulatory system can get affected, leading to achy fatigued legs, swelling (edema), varicose veins, and in extreme cases, deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

When the circulation of your lower extremities is affected, prescription compression socks are recommended to improve or restore normal blood flow. They are also recommended as a preventative measure to individuals at risk of developing DVT, edema, and varicose veins.

What Are Compression Socks?

Compression socks or stockings are specially designed medical garments designed to deliver a controlled amount of pressure to the legs to reduce pain, discomfort, and swelling, treat or prevent blood circulation problems, and improve athletes’ performance.

They come in different types, sizes, styles, and compression strengths, to cater for a wide variety of people and conditions. Due to the variety of compression socks in the market, it’s necessary to visit a specialist for proper examination and prescription of the right socks for your specific needs.

At Push Pounds Sports Medicine, we have specialists who examine, diagnose, and prescribe the best compression socks in Toronto, to cater to specific leg-related issues.

How Do Prescription Socks Work?

Blood from the lower extremities moves back to your heart through the help of a rhythmic skeletal-muscle pump and valves in your veins. During normal locomotion, the contraction of the skeletal muscles in the limbs forces blood to move up the veins. When the muscles relax, valves prevent blood from flowing back into the legs. In case your valves malfunction, veins weaken, or locomotion becomes limited, the movement of blood from the limbs to the heart is hindered.

Prescription compression socks or stockings act as extra layers of muscles, which exert the required amount of pressure on your veins, facilitating blood circulation. They also facilitate the flow of lymph (fluid around cells) through the lymphatic system, reducing swelling in your legs.

Types of Compression Socks

There are several types of prescription compression socks or stockings. Each type is specially made to treat or prevent different circulatory problems and provide comfort by improving blood flow in the lower extremity of the body.

There are three primary types of compression socks:

1. Graduated compression socks

Graduated compression socks feature an intense compression at the ankle that decreases as you move up the leg. This type of socks requires professional fitting, and they are designed for mobility.

Graduated compression socks can be below-knee, which are primarily used to treat or prevent lower leg edema, or above-knee, which are used to reduce pooling of blood and to avert orthostatic hypotension.

2. Anti-embolism stockings

Anti-embolism compression stockings are used to reduce the chances of deep vein thrombosis in immobile individuals, including bedridden persons and those recovering from surgery. They have to be prescribed by a professional to meet specific compression strength.

They are similar to graduated compressions stockings in that they are also graduated. However, the degree of compression varies between the two.

3. Nonmedical support hosiery

Nonmedical compression socks or stockings do not require a prescription. They exert low, uniform pressure to your legs. Unlike medical-grade compression socks, non-medical socks have a low level of pressure.

This type of compression socks is typically used to relieve aching legs. Flight socks and hose are good examples of nonmedical compression socks.

What Are the Uses of Prescription Compression Socks?

Push Pounds Sports Medicine offers superior compression stockings in Toronto to cater to different athletes’ needs and any other individual with lower extremity issues. It is worth noting that compression socks can also be worn by healthy individuals looking to improve their performance or prevent circulatory problems and other leg-related issues.

Here are some common uses of prescription compression socks:

• Immobile individuals: Compression socks or stockings are worn after surgery, during bed rest, or in other situations that render individuals immobile. They facilitate blood circulation, preventing the formation of blood clots.
• Pregnancy: Pregnant women can wear compression stockings to reduce or prevent swelling and varicose veins.
• Travel: When traveling for long hours, mobility is limited. This affects blood circulation, increasing the chances of swelling and DVT. To prevent this, prescription compression socks are prescribed.
• Performance: Athletes and other active individuals wear prescription compression socks to enhance their performance and prevent injuries.
• Post-thrombotic Syndrome: This is the pain and discomfort that affects your leg or arm after suffering from deep vein thrombosis. Wearing compression stockings can help subside symptoms associated with post-thrombotic syndrome.
• Edema: Edema is the swelling of legs due to the buildup of fluids. It’s a symptom of underlying conditions such as kidney and heart failure, but it can also result from sitting or standing for long periods of time, or pregnancy.

Apart from the above uses, compression socks can be used to prevent, manage, or treat other conditions. To learn whether you can benefit from prescription compression socks in Toronto, contact or visit Push Pounds Sports Medicine.

Why Choose Push Pounds Sports Medicine for Your Compression Socks in Toronto?

Push Pounds Sports Medicine is a leading Sports Medical Center in Toronto with experienced and highly-qualified specialists. We utilize a personalized healthcare system approach, which ensures that all clients are treated based on their specific system, conditions, and needs. Our team comprises a wide range of experts to ensure that you get the treatment you require.

When you visit Push Pounds Sports Medicine with lower extremity issues such as varicose veins and swollen legs, our specialists perform a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause and whether you can benefit from prescription compression stockings. If they can benefit your condition, our specialist takes the required measurements. Precise fitting is key since only the right fitting of compression socks can provide the required results.

The specialist then helps you select the best compression socks or stockings per your condition, measurements, and other requirements.

Our specialist then shows you how to wear and remove your compression socks, and how to maintain them for durability and long-term benefits. You’re also instructed on when to wear them and for how long.

We are equipped with musculoskeletal specialists and the tools to help you with any issues affecting your legs. To learn more about compression socks in Toronto and how they can benefit your health, please contact us today or schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.