How to Buy Support Hose

Doctors often recommend that those who spend their days on their feet wear support hose. Also known as medical hosiery, support hose improve circulation by promoting blood flow with different levels of compression. Selecting the support hose that best suit your condition can be difficult if you don't know what you should look for in support hose.

Instructions

• 1

  Weigh yourself and measure your legs in the morning to determine the support hosiery that will work best for you. Note the circumference of your legs at these points: just below your knee, mid-calf and at the ankle. These measurements will assist you when determining the size of support hose you require.

• 2

  Consider graduated support. If you need more support (pressure) at the ankle than you do at the calf, a graduated support sock, or hose, is a good choice. You'll determine the level of compression you need based on the size of your ankle in proportion to your size.

• 3

  Discuss the level of pressure, or compression, you need with your doctor before you purchase support hose. If you are unsure about the level of support and want to begin using support hosiery, start with "mild" support. Higher levels of support are not recommended without the consent of your doctor.

• 4

  Know your options when it comes to support hosiery. Support hose may provide "mild," "moderate," "firm," or "very firm" support. Each of these levels of support corresponds with a specific level of compression.

• 5

  Know what condition you're seeking to treat when buying support hose. mild support (8 to 15mm/Hg) offers relief for minor varicose veins and sore feet and ankles. Moderate support (15 to 20 mm/Hg) may be used if soreness or lower-leg pain restricts your activity level, and it also reduces your risk of blood clots. Firm support (20 to 30 mm/Hg) is often required after surgery or to minimize swelling in feet and ankles. Very firm support (30 to 40mm/Hg) is advisable only under the instruction of your doctor and treats severe swelling and circulation problems.