Are you wondering how to size compression socks? Sizes can vary depending on the purpose for which they are being used. There are many types of compression socks available in the market including sports, professional, college, recreational and even gender specific designs such as ladies’ panties with tiny panties beneath for women or men with very little leg skin. All the socks are designed to add a bit of comfort and warmth to the wearer’s legs and feet. Here are few tips on how to size compression socks:
Graduated compression socks are typically measured in inches of mercury (inches), there are five levels of compression and a lower number of inches per inch indicates less compression while a greater number means increased compression. The purpose of increasing the pressure of blood flow is to make the veins more difficult to compress thereby making it harder for the veins to hold back the blood from flowing into the tissues of the legs and feet. It is a lot like wearing elastic socks that gradually increase in girth as you wear them.
In order to get a better idea of how to size compression socks, one can take a look at various sporting articles and see how these articles are sized. For instance, it is not advisable to wear street shoes with compression socks as the toes may get crushed under the toe box due to the increased pressure. So if you plan on wearing street shoes, go for tennis shoes or dress shoes that have a closed toe box so as to prevent any issues with the toes and foot structure. The same goes for high-heeled shoes, you should stick to flip flops or sandals with straight or narrow heels as the added pressure on the foot and calf will cause the socks to dig into the skin of the foot and increase the pressures. There is no universal standard when it comes to shoe size, so please consult your podiatrist and your local sporting goods store regarding your shoe size.