Going on expeditions is adventurous for everyone. After all, who doesn’t want a day off from their busy, hectic life to explore something new? Every traveling experience has an inevitable part of it: travel. You have to drive your way before you arrive at your chosen destination. While it might look promising, spending hours on the road can take a toll on your veins. Sitting in cramped positions is enough to hurt your leg health. So how do you prevent it from happening? The answer is compression stockings. These compact elastic garment pieces must be on your essential travel list if you want to steer clear of the possibility of facing swelling in your feet and ankles. But that’s not all how these medical garments aid your health. They are equally good for avoiding medical complications like blood clots. Read on to learn more about how these compact-looking garment pieces benefit your health during long travels.
What Exactly Are Compression Stockings?
These are gently fitting elastic medical garments (although used for normal as well) that are used to improve blood circulation in the legs. Think of them as the normal stockings that you normally wear, but with the added pressure, gently squeezing the legs, helping the blood flow ideally. They come in different types, each of which is used for various purposes. Wearing them, you can avoid facing issues like swelling, the risk of developing blood clots, and heavy feeling and aching in your legs, which are common with restricted movements.
Role Of Compression Stockings During Driving
You stay confined to a limited space while traveling, and as a result, your legs bear all the ill effects, especially in cases where prolonged sitting exceeds four hours. Over time, the restricted motion leads to poor circulation in the lower extremities like calves, feet, and ankles. The veins, despite being healthy, face a lot of trouble pumping back blood, due to which fluid pooling in the legs is caused, which is known as edema or swelling.
This is where the role of compression stockings for blood circulation comes into the picture. By wearing them, you provide your legs, ankles, feet, and calves the required comfort as it improves blood circulation throughout these parts. The graduated gentle pressure applied helps keep the circulation steady and prevents issues like swelling, lowers the risk of developing blood clots, and relieves problems like tingling and other discomforts.
Which Kind Of Compression Stocking Would Suit Me?
Compression stockings based on their purpose of use come in various options. Usually, they have different lengths and millimeters of mercury based on which their level of compression is based. Going by the general rule of thumb, a stocking option with a compression level of 15-20 mmHg is suitable for all travelers alike who don’t have a history of any vein-related problems or lymphatic issues. This is the very choice that most people go with to support active circulation in their legs due to being less mobile.
For those who do have or had any such issues, an option of 20-30 mmHg would be more beneficial. Continuously traveling for an elongated period increases an individual’s chances of facing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to almost 1.5 to 4 times. Plus, they may already be at risk of blood clot formation. Other than the compression level, the following are some factors that you need to consider for choosing the right pair of compression stockings for your long car ride.
Fit
They are going to be your comfort partner for a while. Choose an option that suits you perfectly. The fitting must be optimum, neither too tight nor too loose, just tight enough to aid in circulation. By wearing an option that’s too firm on the legs, you would be restricting the blood flow instead of letting it flow optimally. In case you go with an option that’s quite loose, no compression would be there, making wearing them futile.
Fabric
For your road trip involving hours of traveling on the road, you want something that’s snug, something that gently hugs your legs. Therefore, it suggested going with an option that’s lightweight, soft, and breathable enough to breathe life through your congested legs.
Type
Typically, you would get two options for it: open-toe and closed-toe compression stockings. If you are looking for more breathable space through your toes, go with open-toe stockings, and if more compression and full coverage are something that you want, closed-toe compression stockings for travel would be good for you.
How To Use Compression Stockings For Travelling?
There is plenty of supporting evidence that wearing compression stockings is deemed to reduce your chances of facing swelling and edema while aiding and boosting circulation throughout the legs. But in order to get all these benefits, it’s essential to wear them the right way, allowing the compression stockings to work at their best and providing just the right amount of compression to the legs. People have stated they got benefits like reduced fatigue and feeling more comfortable after wearing the compression stockings as per experts' recommendations. To ensure you also get the same results, have a look at some ways on how to properly wear/use these stockings.
- Wear them at least once before the actual travel day to ensure they fit you well.
- In case of having any mobility issues, use a stocking donner.
- Wear them throughout the travel. You can choose to remove them for a while in case you face discomfort of any kind.
- Make sure to remain properly hydrated throughout the travel to improve circulation.
- If possible, try getting up and moving every hour or two to promote blood flow.
Choose SNUG360’s Thigh High Compression Stockings As Your Ideal Travel Companion
Don’t let travel-related complications get in the way of you enjoying your outdoor adventures to the fullest. Crafted with advanced technology comes our range of compression stockings, designed to enhance your travel experience. Made from premium fabric, these stockings apply gentle pressure to the legs, helping to prevent issues like edema and blood clot formation. They provide exceptional comfort, alleviating the heaviness and discomfort often felt during long journeys. Simply put them on at the start of your journey and let them do their work. With a soft, premium band securing its fit, you won’t need to readjust them throughout the day, guaranteeing you a good time throughout the day.
The Long and Short of It
Happy feet are essential for happy travel. While healthcare experts suggest using compression stockings for those with existing medical conditions like DVT, pregnancy, or varicose veins, they are equally good for normal wear as well. Maintaining optimal leg health is crucial: you don’t want to reach your dream destination with fatigued legs that ruin the lively experience of your voyage. At SNUG360, we offer a wide range of compression stockings that are ideal for both medical use and normal wear as well. By choosing to toss a pair of our stockings in your travel bag, you can avoid common travel-related issues such as swollen and tired legs.