Summary & Highlights
Compression socks are popular among older adults because they help improve circulation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain and discomfort in the feet and legs. Compression socks are especially important for seniors with chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and varicose veins.
We recommend compression socks from Copper Compression and Vive Health.
Compression socks must fit properly to avoid circulation problems. Choose breathable fabrics to regulate body temperature and keep your feet dry.
People with diabetes or severe peripheral arterial disease should be especially careful when wearing compression socks, as they can cause blisters or skin lesions if they are too tight.
Check with your doctor or podiatrist to ensure you get a pair of socks that fit you perfectly.
Best Compression Socks for Elderly People
If you or an elderly person you love need compression socks, here are my top recommendations:
These long compression socks have a universal design to fit men and women. Plus, they feature the anti-microbial and circulatory benefits of copper infused into the breathable fabric.
Available in 4 sizes for proper fit as well as ankle sock and foot sleeve versions as well.
This one-of-a-kind pair of socks is copper-Infused, comfortable, and durable. Copper is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an antimicrobial material.
Plus, when infused with stretchable fabric, copper offers a light compression that aids in controlling intravenous blood flow moving oxygen and blood to the feet.
So, this pair can help with both joint and muscle recovery.
Plus, they lower the likelihood of lactic acid buildup in the muscles, which is the primary cause of muscle discomfort.
In a nutshell, these socks will be a valuable addition to arthritis pain relief items and any other age-related leg pain relief. You can get them in different types, too: ankle socks, calf sleeves, full socks, etc.
Here are the specific benefits of this product:
- Say goodbye to joints and muscle aches. They are ideal for anyone who needs medical compression socks. Their light compression regulates intravenous blood flow hence ache recovery.
- Provide pain and discomfort relief. They’re comfortable and stretchy. Moreover, copper improves oxygen circulation and decreases lactic acid buildup, resulting in less discomfort.
- Fabric compression with superior performance. They are superior to conventional compression socks in terms of comfort and support. They aren’t too tight and don’t sag.
- Packed with authentic copper’s therapeutic properties. Keeps your feet dry. They also encourage natural blood circulation to aid in healing.
My Personal Experience with Copper Compression Support Socks
Copper Compression provided me with a free pair to try for myself, and here is what I found after wearing them to work every day for a week. They were much more comfortable than I thought they would be.
I typically wear shorter socks and wasn’t sure I would like socks up to the knees. They also had a cooling effect on the skin, adding comfort.
Admittedly, I don’t have circulatory problems in my lower legs. But I get leg aches from spending a great deal of time sitting at my desk working on blog posts – sometimes for 8 – 10 hours at a time.
My legs weren’t achy at all at the end of those long days and I still wear them if I know it’s going to be a “long sitting” day.
If you decide to try them for yourself, Copper Compression offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Use my discount code GWG20 to save 20% off the regular price.
These compression socks offer true medical-grade compression but are comfortable enough to wear all day. They even come in 10 definitely-not-boring color combinations too! They come in an ankle sock variety too!
These knee-high compression socks from Vive Health offer medical-grade compression at 20-30mm Hg to recover tired and achy feet and calves. Yet, they are comfortable enough to wear all day long!
These socks are made of a soft, stretchy, and lightweight nylon and spandex blended fabric that is also anti-microbial. The result? All-day, odor-free comfort! But, when they need a cleaning, you can just throw them in the machine anytime you need to.
Vive made these socks for extended daily wear and durability with a reinforced toe and heel.
This is one of the most durable compression socks around that comes with double-stretched fabric. Whether you wear it at home or while cycling, this pair of socks will offer maximum comfort.
They have excellent vascular toning that helps to retain the compression even when you wash them multiple times a month.
Compression socks provide much-needed relief to your varicose veins and improve blood circulation. It prevents various leg issues, such as swelling of your heels and calf compression.
If you had surgery on your leg recently, these socks would help prevent blood clots in and around your legs. The support and compression are located on the calves, heels, and toes. These areas are more prone to blood clots.
Once you put these socks on, you get a feeling of relief. It is as if someone is massaging your leg as you walk!
For seniors with achy feet who don’t want to wear full-knee socks, these ankle socks offer 15-20 mmHg of compression to reduce foot fatigue.
This is not like the typical pair of compression socks that you usually see. They don’t reach till your knees. Instead, they reach just above your heels, which is enough to keep your toes and heels comfortable.
Like most of the other compression socks, this pair also provides 15-20 mmHg compression. It helps you to move your legs quicker, use less energy, and keeps your feet fresh and energized even after you walk for miles.
Charmking’s compression knee socks are copper-infused and come in 19 fun designs and colors. They offer 15-20 mmHg of compression to increase circulation and reduce leg fatigue.
As you know, copper is one of the best conductors of electricity. This brand takes this natural property to the next level by allowing it to rejuvenate the blood circulation in your legs.
There are thin copper wires inside these socks that can offer a 15-20 mmHg compression, which is more than enough for your calves and heels.
This helps to keep your legs energized and fresh throughout the day. This pair of socks will provide much-needed relief if you experience leg pain after walking for a few minutes.
The mild squeezing of the flexible copper wires prevents injuries. It keeps your legs warm and also increases blood movement in the veins.
These socks help to stimulate the blood cells and relieve symptoms related to excess fluid retention and varicose veins, thus preventing frequent cramps and soreness.
Designed to fit both men and women, this brand pays specific attention to the design and fittings.
Many older adults complain that they don’t find compression socks that fit well. Well, this pair will tend to all those complaints. These socks provide 20-30mmHg compression, enough to keep your legs relaxed and energized whenever you put them on.
They come in four different sizes with a variety of calf circumferences. You can also buy the appropriate pair according to the size of your shoes.
This is the ideal pair when it comes to offering maximum compression without compromising on the quality of the socks. They not only fit well but also maximize your blood circulation. This helps your muscles to recover quickly after a long walk.
Looking for compression socks that are actually fun to wear? These come in 38 different color options, including holiday patterns. They come in 2 size options with 15-20 mmHg of compression.
The primary objective of this pair of compression socks is to deliver maximum comfort to your legs. That is why the makers used breathable fabric, which is lightweight and soft.
Although it sits tightly on your legs, you don’t feel uncomfortable due to the triple comfort layers of nylon. Plus, it follows the recommended compression by doctors and trainers, which is 15-20 mmHg.
The 360-degree stretch provides greater durability and flexibility. Older adults can wear it daily if they have frequent leg pain. It keeps your legs warm and comfortable.
The appropriate compression and the breathable fabric don’t make you feel like you are wearing socks. This is one of those socks that work silently. They don’t suffocate your legs are you wear them.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Compression Socks
Compression socks are a medical device, so you should always visit your doctor before using them.
- The first thing you should do is make sure that you buy the right size for your legs. Many brands offer a wide variety of sizes, making this step much easier.
- There are many styles of compression socks available. You can choose from different designs, open or closed-toe socks, and varying lengths. In most cases, the socks you choose will depend on personal preference.
- Look for socks that offer antibacterial properties, which will keep them odor-free and extend their life. This will also keep your feet dry throughout the day, reducing the risk of blisters.
- Another feature to keep in mind is cushioning. Especially for elders, having extra cushioning under the sole of the sock can increase their comfort level. Diabetic patients or people with peripheral neuropathies will also benefit from this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do Compression Socks Help?
Compression socks work by exerting a certain amount of pressure over your legs. By doing this, they prevent fluid buildup and combat the effect of gravity. Since they constrict the veins in your legs, they help blood return to your heart, thus improving circulation.
This also helps prevent swelling since your body’s circulatory system also reabsorbs fluids.
They also make the muscles in your legs more stable, which helps decrease muscle fatigue. Lactic acid, which is the substance that accumulates in your tissues and makes them feel sore, is also reabsorbed by circulation.
Since compression socks improve circulation, they also aid in lactic acid clearance, making your legs ache less.
By reducing fluid buildup in your legs, compression socks also prevent deep vein thrombosis. Since fluids and blood no longer pool in your tissues and veins, they don’t have time to form blood clots which could cause a dangerous thrombosis.
How Should Compression Socks Fit?
Before buying your new compression socks, make sure to measure your legs so that you can get the right size. The ideal compression sock will obviously exert a certain amount of pressure over your legs, but they should never feel uncomfortable.
If your legs, feet, or toes feel numb or tingly after putting on your compression socks, they are probably too small for you. The bands at the top of the sock and the seams should never leave red, sore marks on your skin.
Compression socks that are too small could constrict circulation and produce injuries, especially in patients with nerve damage –such as diabetics, for example-.
It’s very important to ensure your compression socks aren’t too small, but you also need to get socks that aren’t too large.
If your socks are too big to exert any pressure, you won’t reap any of their health benefits. Visit your doctor or podiatrist to ensure that you get compression stockings that fit you perfectly.
Are There Side Effects of Wearing Compression Stockings?
If your compression socks are good quality and fit you well, they shouldn’t produce any side effects. However, ill-fitting compression stockings can cause blisters or skin lesions, especially when they are too tight.
Diabetic patients or those with the severe peripheral arterial disease should be especially careful when wearing compression socks.
People with these conditions should make sure to wear their stockings for shorter periods of time and check their skin for any lesions after taking them off.
These diseases cause nerve damage and fragile skin, which makes them more prone to develop injuries, especially if their compression socks are too tight.
How Long Should You Wear Compression Socks?
As long as your compression socks fit you properly, you should be able to wear them throughout your day without any issues. Many people like to put their socks on at the beginning of the day before any swelling develops.
They wear their socks the entire day and then take them off before bed. There isn’t a specific amount of time during which you should wear your compression stockings, but they tend to be most useful when you are up and about.
Take them off if you experience discomfort while wearing them, and check your skin after taking them off.
Can You Sleep with Compression Socks?
Most people can sleep in compression socks without experiencing any issues. If your socks fit properly and don’t cause any numbness, you should be able to wear them to bed when necessary.
However, people who suffer from diabetes or peripheral neuropathies shouldn’t sleep in their compression socks. Remember to check with your doctor before making any decisions regarding your compression stockings.
Summary and Final Recommendations
Taking care of your legs is essential, especially if you have a habit of walking regularly. Growing old is inevitable but you can always take care of your legs by wearing these compression socks. They are worth every penny you spend.
The appropriate compression on these socks helps to prevent blood clots in your legs. So, buy the pair you think will fit best and see how your legs adapt to this positive change.
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