Some of us experience leg pain, and I bet you don't want to just sit around while that aching feeling lingers. We have some pretty creative ways of coping with the daily aches and believe it or not, there is one for YOU!
The older we get, the more important it is to pay attention to our bodies. It’s vital that we give our bodies the utmost care they deserve, and that includes our legs. Enter compression!!
Pain in the legs is a common problem for many people. The pain can be caused by injuries, inflammation, or poor circulation of blood to the area. Compression therapy has been shown to provide relief from leg pain by massaging it away with deep pressure and improving circulation through compression boots. This blog post discusses how compression therapy helps you get rid of leg pain and some great benefits that come along with it!
Table of Contents:
What is Compression Therapy?
Compression is an effective method by which controlled pressure is applied to the extremities in order to increase blood flow and the efficiency of the lymphatic and venous systems. Traditionally, compression used socks or stockings, but we use compression boots to offer dynamic compression that improves circulation.
What is the Importance of Compression Therapy?
At its most basic, compressing the muscles helps blood flow through the body more efficiently. Compression prevents blood from pooling in the body. Most people realize that compression garments are often used to reduce or prevent swelling, but there are many other uses for compression, especially eases the leg pain
Now let's get started with the amazing benefits of Using Compressing Boots
Better Blood Flow
When you are sitting or standing, the veins in your legs must fight gravity to move blood back to your heart. Compression therapy gently squeezes the leg, which helps blood flow faster and keep moving in the right direction.
Prevention and Treatment of Varicose Veins
In order to push blood back up toward the heart, the veins in your legs have valves that only allow blood to move in one direction. Sometimes these valves wear out and let the blood pool in the veins. This can lead to varicose veins, swollen and twisted veins that can cause pain and a heavy, achy feeling in your legs.
Compression boots can help reduce the discomfort and swelling that varicose vein causes. After varicose vein treatment, compression therapy may help prevent you from getting new varicose veins.
Less Swelling
Pressure from compression boots can keep fluids from leaking out of small blood vessels in your legs. It can help prevent swelling caused by sitting or standing still for long periods of time. For example, some people wear them on long airplane flights or if they stand on their feet a lot at work.
Compression therapy can also help treat swelling. When there is extra fluid in your legs, compression helps your body absorb it.
Swelling in your feet and ankles is also a common side effect of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor about wearing compression tights to reduce swelling and leg discomfort.
Less Dizziness and Nausea
Orthostatic hypotension is when your blood pressure drops when you stand up. It can make you feel dizzy (like the room is spinning), lightheaded (like you might faint), or nauseous (like you might throw up).
If you have this problem a lot, your doctor might recommend a thigh-high or waist-high compression hose. Compression therapy can keep blood from pooling in your legs, which is what causes orthostatic hypotension.
One study even found that pregnant women had less morning sickness and dizziness when they wore compression boots.
Reduces Appearance of Veins
Scientists have found that patients can dramatically reduce the appearance of visible veins by regularly using compression therapies. Since these veins are caused when pressure builds in the veins, causing them to twist and become engorged, compression reduces the built-up pressure and helps blood flow more smoothly.
Helps Prevent and Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
Cellulite is the bane of many women. Scientists are still trying to determine its causes, but there are some indications that blood circulation plays an important role. A few recent studies have shown that compression therapy can be used to effectively reduce and prevent cellulite from appearing.
Relieves Pain
Compression often relieves pain. When garments or technology compress the muscles, it forces the blood back towards your heart. This makes your muscles feel lighter and also relieves discomfort.
Keeps Muscles Warm and Increases Flexibility
Compression keeps muscles warm, which is a bonus for athletes. When your muscles are warm, they become more flexible and have a wider range of motion.
Quicker Recovery
By compressing the veins, blood moves faster through your system. Lactic acids and other wastes that build in the tissues are carried away in the veins and back towards the heart. Compression helps drain these metabolic wastes more efficiently, which helps speed the recovery process. This is true for both, recovering after an intense workout and after many types of surgeries.
More Oxygen in Your Muscles
Medical studies have found that compression increases the amount of oxygen found in muscles. Oxygen is fuel for your muscles, and it also helps heal any soreness after exertion.
Increases Awareness of Your Body
Interestingly, studies have found that people using compression therapies feel they are more in tune with their bodies. Because compression therapies put pressure on the skin, they activate the receptors that communicate with your brain and tell you exactly where your legs, arms, hands, and feet are and what they are doing.
What Is Compression Therapy Used for?
Improved Athletic Performance
Professional athletes, trainers, and physical therapists have long understood and relied on the power of compression. But now non-professional athletes are beginning to use compression as an integral part of their regular workouts.
Blood Circulation During Long or Frequent Flights
Business travelers quickly learn of the aches and pains that come with poor circulation on long flights. Flight passengers can wear compression garments to prevent this from happening. These garments also help in preventing blood clots and deep vein thrombosis which can occur during long flights.
Healthy Posture and Blood Flow During Pregnancy
Pregnant women often benefit from using compression therapies during the later months of their pregnancies. The added weight of pregnancy frequently means back pain, poor posture, and poor circulation in the legs. Compression garments help improve posture and blood flow for many of these women.
Improved Blood Flow for Nurses, Teachers, and Salespeople
Pregnant women and frequent fliers aren’t the only ones who frequently suffer from poor circulation. Anyone who has had a career that required them to stand for long hours know how hard it can be to keep your legs healthy and prevent swelling after a long week of work. Compression socks are a great option for anyone who spends their hours standing.
Treating Problematic Veins
Poor circulation often leads to visible veins. When blood pressure increases inside your veins, they become twisted and swollen. This makes it even harder for blood to travel back to the heart. These veins are often visible under the skin.
If the pressure continues to build in your veins, the fluid that builds up can create an open sore: a venous ulcer. Compression garments that improve circulation can help treat each of these issues, sometimes even when no other treatments are used.
Treating Lymphedema
Sometimes people experience swelling in an arm or leg or in the head and neck after cancer-related surgeries involving one of the lymph nodes. The body cannot drain lymphatic fluid from that part of the body any longer. Compression garments and therapies are used to help drain the affected area and promote recovery.
Healing power of compression therapy for the legs
Healing Leg Ulcers
Ulcers are open wounds on the skin that can be hard to heal. Leg ulcers can be caused by:
Compression therapy is a very effective treatment for leg ulcers. It helps heal ulcers by improving blood flow. During the healing process, compression therapy reduces the symptoms of leg ulcers, such as pain, swelling, and itching.
Up to 97% of people who have had leg ulcers will get another leg ulcer in the future. Compression therapy can help keep you from getting new leg ulcers.
How many times a week should you do compression therapy?
Generally speaking, a healthy individual can use compression therapy 4-6 times per week. It is particularly invigorating after a tough training session and during longer training periods for high endurance events such as marathons, triathlons, and other athletic competitions.
Wrap Up
It is important to be in contact with a professional before beginning any form of therapy or wearing compression garments. You may find that your current garment does not provide the necessary support for optimal health benefits, so it’s best you consult an expert who can help determine what type would work most effectively based on individual needs.
We want you to feel that we're here for your every need and are ready, willing, and able to help ease the pain in any way possible. We also have a variety of services available so please schedule an appointment today!
