Top 10 Compression Socks for Nurses Reviewed

How your compression socks fit you can easily be considered as the most important thing before you buy them. Do not worry if the socks feel tighter than your regular socks do - after all, that’s what they are supposed to do! They won’t feel so tight around your calves though, and they will feel the closest around your ankles and feet. If you want, you can choose socks that feel tight everywhere, but you should probably avoid this if you have no circulation problems.

You cannot find a one size fits all compression sock, nor do they follow the rules of shoe size, so you should probably gran the closest ruler and get to work. The ruler, or the measuring tape, will need to apply it’s magic around several areas on your legs, like your calves, your ankles, your thighs if the socks are that long, and you should measure the distance from your knees to the floor as well. The desired length of your socks depends on what you’re going to use the socks for. Knee-highs are the comfiest compression socks when compared to thigh-highs and ankle socks. You’re going to be handling your socks the whole day, so your best option is the knee-highs. If you feel like you need more compression or more or less warmth, you can always change the length of the socks, but knee-highs are a great starting point. If you suffer from any medical issues, it’s best to consult your doctor before you buy the socks. Wearing them during the whole day will be the best thing you can do, so put them on as soon as you wake up, before the swelling sets in, and take them off to bathe or when you go to bed.

You will likely have problems with putting the socks on. These compression socks for nurses are known to be tight and firm, and pulling your feet and calves through can prove to be a challenge. If you do have problems with putting them on, there are some easy tricks you can try to make it easier. Before you do anything else, wash the socks by hand. This gentle washing will soften the fibers up, and will also get rid off that new garment smell. Buying two pairs at once is an excellent idea because then you can wear one pair while you wait for the other to dry, and cycle them throughout the week. If you have any wounds that are fresh and open, remember to protect and clean them before you attempt to slither into the socks. You can also try keeping the socks next to your bed. This way, you will put them on as soon as you wake up, which will be much easier because you will have no swelling. The socks will then prevent swelling from even occurring in the first place. When you’re ready to put on the socks, get seated on a chair. Lean on the chair firmly, and then grab the sock by its top with just one hand. Then push your other hand through the sock until you reach the top from the inside, and grab it firmly. Once you do so, pull the hand out with the top still sitting firmly in your hand, with the rest of the sock flipped inside out. Put your toes in the toe area, and then slowly roll the sock over to your heels, and work your way up to the calves patiently. Do not pull the top too much, as this can tear the socks.

If you still can’t squeeze your feet in with ease, a pair of rubber gloves can be very helpful. The rubber prevents the fiber from sliding out of your fingers and gives you a much firmer grip. Chalk powder and even silicone applied to the legs before you put the socks on can also be helpful since they will absorb extra moisture up. Skip the morning lotion routine, since the moist lotion can make it hard to push your legs through. If you still have trouble even after trying all of this out, the chances are that you have the wrong size of socks on your hands, and you should switch them out!

As everyone who tried compression socks for nurses before will tell you, they genuinely do a fantastic job of keeping us well-rested and healthy. When you try a pair on, you will see what we’re talking about, but if you’re skeptical then read on to discover just what kind of benefits compression socks provide us with.

If you got your pair to help you with swelling and circulation issues, you will not be disappointed. Compression socks help fight deep vein thrombosis, spider veins, varicose veins, swelling, and everything else in between. The vein issues can cause itching, burning, swelling, and sometimes even leg cramps. Compression socks can stop all of this from happening, and they can even slow the progression of the problems. The socks do this by helping your blood flow to your heart better, fighting the pull of the gravity along the way. These socks can assist you if you have clotting issues as well. Just make sure you have the socks on at all times, and that the compression level you have chosen is right for your needs.

On the other hand, fitness enthusiasts and workers who stand on their feet all day can feel other benefits as well. Compression socks for nurses help fight leg fatigue and swelling, Muscle soreness can also be avoided if you have a pair of compression socks on. You can kiss sprains and strains goodbye with the socks keeping your joints and tissues in check. If you already hurt yourself, then the socks can again help you by accelerating healing. The socks will increase oxygen levels in your blood, thanks to the improved circulation.

What your compression socks are made out of can say a lot about them. Their fibers can affect the fit, the comfort level, the compression level, their durability, and much more. The kind of material used to create socks will depend on what kind of sock is being created in the first place. We have merino wool as an example, used to create fluffy and warm winter socks. Cotton is used to create lighter and breezier socks ideal for warm weather. Compression socks can feature all kinds of fibers in their construction, but we will go over the most common fibers you can find.

The most common fibers used to create compression socks for nurses are synthetic fibers. Humans make them, and they all usually have the same ancestor, which is plastic. Plastic does not necessarily make them horrible, and it can provide us with many benefits. Polyester, nylon, and spandex, or some mix from them are what you’re going to be looking at when you shop compression socks. These fibers are all light, thin, and have fantastic moisture management properties. They won’t make your socks thick and bulky, making them ideal for everyday wear. They can also keep you both warm and cool thanks to their amazing insulating and cooling properties. But once these socks get wet, they lose all of that, so if you work in a cool place, make sure that you bring a spare in case an accident happens!

Cotton, on the other hand, is a completely natural fiber that comes from the cotton plant. Compression socks will never be entirely made out of cotton since cotton does not have compression abilities. Cotton also cannot wick away moisture, and it stays wet for a long time, which is not what you need when you have to keep in the socks the whole day. But cotton is plush, soft and gentle, and it helps airflow through the socks, so it’s still a precious sock material. Cotton is also relatively inexpensive, is very pliable, and it absorbs colors like a champ, giving you a huge variety of colors and patterns to choose from. When it’s blended with polyester, nylon or spandex, the pros we just mentioned start to become apparent 0 you end up with a lightweight, breathable sock that wicks away moisture and keeps your feet compressed at all times!

Compression socks for nurses are much pricier than regular socks, so they better be sturdy! A cheaply constructed pair of socks will not compress you, nor will they give you the support you need, and they will get gradually worse as time goes by. The fibers need to be good, and the stitches must hold it together since you will be walking on them the whole day!

An excellent pair of socks will be made out of a premium material blend. Cotton, for example, is not very durable, and neither is nylon, but when you combine them with polyester and spandex, you get a very hardy pair of socks. Good, reinforced stitching is also a critical factor in the durability of your socks, since they will prevent the socks from sprouting holes as soon as a small amount of pressure is applied to them!

We are talking about compression socks here, so we better mention different compression levels, right? The compression socks usually have four or five different levels, which describe how much pressure will be applied to your feet. This pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. The higher this number is, the stronger the compression will be. Some socks have graduated compression, with varying levels of compression present in different areas of the socks. The ankles and feet tend to be the most squeezed areas, while the socks will be looser around the calves and thighs. Healthy people should aim for a sock that has a 15 mmHg level of compression, no more. This compression level helps fight away minor swelling and fatigue experienced from standing around all day, or from exercising. If you’re pregnant, this compression level can also be of help to you. Compression levels ranging from 15 to 20 mmHg are moderate, and they keep deep vein thrombosis from hurting you, even when you fly, which is why airline passengers commonly use it.

Levels ranging from 20 to 40 mmHg, or even more, are considered to be high, and should only be used if you have serious circulation problems, if you’re recovering from a surgery, or if your doctor recommended them, which is why they are often referred to as medical-grade compression socks for nurses. These socks all have graduated compression levels - if they had the same amount of pressure throughout their whole length, the circulation could be stopped completely, which is the last thing you need. You probably do not need socks with this kind of compression levels, but if you do suffer from serious vein issues, then go for them!