Compression Hosiery

Often prescribed by your doctor, compression stockings can help to alleviate leg swelling and assist with venous insufficiencies and lymphatic diseases. By applying pressure from the ankle up the leg, compression hosiery promotes blood flow up the leg as it can help to prevent blood from pooling. This mild to moderate squeeze can be used to target pain from varicose veins, help with post-surgery care, alleviate leg swelling during pregnancy, aid athletes during training, or to help prevent clotting issues, swelling, and aching, heavy legs.

When choosing your compression stocking, you and your doctor will determine the level of tightness, or compression strength, best suited for your legs. You will also then decide between uniform hosiery, which applies the same amount of pressure throughout the stocking, or graduated hosiery, which is tighter at the ankle and decreases in pressure as it moves up your leg. Once you have made these two important choices, you can pick your preferred fabric and sock height or leg coverage.

Because compression stockings come in different pressure gradients, heights, and are worn for different reasons, the length of time with which you wear your hosiery will be unique to every individual. It is best to consult your doctor to determine the ideal amount of time to wear your favorite stockings from CVS, whether prescribed or purchased over-the-counter.

To remove your compression stockings easily, there are a few tips and tricks that will make the process go smoothly. Lying down with your legs elevated can help prior to your hosiery removal. Using 2 hands to gently slide the sock down on both sides of your leg could also help you to shimmy your stocking down gradually.