Compression socks are not just for athletes. Although you might see elite athletes wearing compression socks and sleeves most frequently, they aren’t the only ones who feel transformed from wearing them. In fact, everyday people like emergency responders, particularly nurses, find compression socks change the way they feel throughout long shifts on their feet.

If you’re a nurse and wondering if compression socks are for you, you’ve come to the right place. The short answer is yes, absolutely. You should be wearing compression socks as a nurse to help alleviate some of the aches and pains you feel every single day. If you’re not convinced, let us tell you about the benefits you’ll start to feel immediately after you put on your first pair.

What Are Compression Socks?

Compression socks are a type of sock designed to make you feel better. While other socks may help prevent bad odor or blisters on your feet, compression socks make a difference in how your entire body feels.

As a nurse, you are on your feet all day. You’ve likely sat on your bed after a long shift and noticed that your feet are swollen, and you’re in a massive amount of pain. It’s a common occurrence that is unpleasant at best. What compression socks do is use a Graduated Compression design to prevent the pooling of your blood that causes painful swelling in your feet. It ensures that the blood continues to circulate all day, aiding in recovery and pain management.

Graduated Compression

Graduated Compression is the design we use at PRO Compression to produce a superior compression sock. Simply put, a compression sock with Graduated Compression has different levels of tightness at different areas of the sock. At the top of the sock, near your calf, where your foot enters the sock, you’ve probably never felt any significant pain. That area tends to have great circulation and isn’t affected by painful swelling. However, down by your ankles and toes, you see a lot of swelling. Gravity is working against you and the blood that’s supposed to circulate back to your heart gets stuck. It’s painful but avoidable with Graduated Compression. This design puts the pressure where you need it to promote strong, healthy blood flow to and from your toes.

The Wide Variety of Compression Socks

Not all compression socks are the same, however. At PRO Compression, we love to embrace individuality and provide sock options that reflect everyone’s personality and needs. For example, we offer three main varieties of compression socks: low, mid and over-the-calf (also called knee-high). But even within those categories, we have different choices based on your personal preference.

For nurses, we suggest trying over-the-calf compression socks. The top of the sock will land just below the knee, giving your heel, ankle, lower leg and calf muscles the full support needed to keep your blood flowing. Because compression socks need to be tight for maximum effectiveness, nurses might find an over-the-calf compression sock to be most effective for long shifts. A lower-rise sock won’t give you the kind of support you need for a full 12-18 hour shift, but a knee-high graduated compression sock should be just perfect.

We also suggest trying a few different colors. Being in scrubs day in and day out can get a little boring. But when you choose from our line of bright colors and bold designs, you’ll be able to stand out. Who knows? You might even surprise and delight your patients. What could be better than that?

Can I Wear Compression Socks Wrong?

Compression socks fit on your body just like any other sock. However, if they feel too tight when you wear them for a long shift, consider buying a different size. You want your compression socks to feel snug, but not so much that you think your blood isn’t circulating properly.

If you are having trouble getting your compression socks on, try following our tutorial. We’ve made a video to give you a few pointers, so you don’t spend several minutes struggling to put on your socks. The most important thing to remember is to roll your compression sock. Don’t try to pull the way you would a regular sock. Get your foot in the right position and then just roll the excess up your leg. There’s no need to break a sweat just getting ready in the morning!

Where to Buy Compression Socks

There are plenty of places to buy compression socks, but none pay as much attention to detail as PRO Compression. Each pair of socks we create is made right here in the United States to ensure quality and variety. We manufacture each sock with a proprietary blend of fabrics that is moisture resistant. No matter how many hours you spend, stressed and running around your office, nursing home, or hospital, your compression socks will stay dry and odor free.

Another benefit to perfecting the Graduated Compression design of our socks is that we can spend more hours creating a variety of colors and designs. Each month we release our newest creations full of bright colors and patterns. We’re always taking suggestions about what you want to see and what your favorite designs are. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to make your voice heard. Maybe you’ll even see your suggestion make it onto a pair of socks in the future!

Getting More From PRO Compression

If you’ve already tried compression socks and are looking for something else to help, check out our compression calf sleeves. They feature the same Graduated Compression design; they just don’t cover your foot and instead, only cover the lower part of your leg. These are the best option if you’ve got an old injury that can sometimes flare up and bother you on long shifts. Put on your compression calf sleeve and you’ll start to feel your calf muscles recover and return to their powerful, pain-free state.

We’d love to see any combination that works for you while you’re at the hospital. You’re doing such great work and all we can do is hope to support you and make you feel refreshed every time you go back to work.