Would you like to hear more? Join our mailing list. Michelangelo's Foot Comfort & Pedorthic Shoppe, has in stock compression therapy stockings from all the major compression garment manufacturers. Name brands such as Jobst, Juzo, Mediven, Sigvaris, Carolon and Therafirm are all available in a variety of compression classes and lengths, knee high, thigh high and waist high. In addition, compression arm sleeves are available for instances where compression arm therapy is needed. Michelangelo's can also custom make compression garments for those patients whose extremities need that extra special touch. Please do not hesitate to come in for a fitting by one of our certified professionals.
How it Works: The Function of the Circulatory System
The general function of the cardiovascular system (heart, lungs, and blood vessels) is transportation of nutrition and waste within the body. The heart pumps blood through arteries to supply oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body.Veins are needed to carry deoxygenated blood containing carbon dioxide and other waste products back to the heart and lungs. The venous system consists of several systems. The veins next to the skin are called superficial veins, and the veins deep within the muscle are called deep veins. The superficial veins feed into the deep veins. The deep veins carry the majority of blood out of the leg. The venous system of the lower part of the body can be viewed as an upside down tree, with smaller branches joining larger and larger branches until they join the largest vein in the body-the Vena Cava-which is like the tree trunk.
Veins have a series of valves that open and close. As the leg muscles contract and relax, especially the calf muscle, the veins in the legs are squeezed and blood is pushed up toward the heart. The valves in the veins keep the blood from flowing backward. In addition to the superficial and deep vein systems, there are connecting veins called perforators and communicating veins. They differ by which veins they connect. For example, perforators connect a superficial vein to a deep vein and communicating veins connect vessels that are alike, e.g. superficial to superficial or deep to deep.
Are You At Risk?
Leg problems are widespread throughout the world, but what many people don't know is that approximately 80% of leg disorders originate within the veins. If you have tired, aching, swollen legs, or if you see the beginning of varicose veins, this brochure will help you learn how to improve the health of your venous circulation. Venous circulation problems can progressively worsen over time and can affect your health and quality of life.What Is Venous Insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the valves of the veins fail to function. This interferes with venous return to the heat and causes blood to pool in the vein. Factors leading to venous insufficiency include venous stasis, changes or damage to the vein walls or valves. Venous insufficiency can lead to spider veins, varicose veins, phlebitis, blood clots, and changes in the skin, including leg ulcers.Why Does Compression Therapy Work?
What does graduated compression therapy do the help the management of venous problems? The external graduated compression of socks and stockings act as a layer of muscle by gently squeezing the stretched vein walls together, allowing the valves to close. The cavity of the vein is reduced, thereby restoring blood flow to a normal state and aiding overall circulation. To be most effective, the socks or stockings should be put on at the start to your day and removed before you go to bed.Remember, the heart pumps blood against the gravity up the veins of the legs. As a person walks, the contraction and relaxation of the calf muscles around the veins aid in moving blood toward the heart. Some people have an inherited weakness of vein walls or valves which creates additional challenges to venous return. Wearing compression socks or stockings is vital for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins and to other circulatory problems.
When using compression hosiery, make sure the compression is graduated, with the strongest pressure at the ankle and decreasing as it goes up the leg. Graduated hosiery is the most effective in preventing edema or swelling, and in promoting better blood circulation. Clinical studies prove that graduated stockings are beneficial and should be a mainstay in relieving symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency including during pregnancy and the post partum period.
Traveling? Helping Legs On The Move!
As more people travel long distances by air and car, the problem of travel-related leg discomfort in on the rise. That's because during travel, blood circulation within the legs is reduced while your movement in constrained. Lack of movement can cause many common symptoms such as heavy, fatigued, tired legs, leg pain, or swollen feet and ankles.Prolonged sitting is also a risk factor for the development of thrombosis (blood clot formation). In some cases, blood clots can migrate to the lungs, resulting in a pulmonary embolism. The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) applies to any type of long distance travel that involves long period of sitting such as plane, car, train or bus. According a recent British study, "all forms of transport a journey of 4 hours or more led to an increase in the risk of blood clots forming in the veins of the legs."
One effective way to increase leg and foot comfort during long distance travel is by wearing graduated compression socks. High quality compression socks and stocking prevents many symptoms like swelling, and helps reduce the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Pregnant? 5 Ways To Keep Your Legs Healthy!
- Remember, moving legs are healthier legs! Avoid standing and sitting for prolonged periods.
- Stay active. Frequent moderate physical exercise (example: walking, swimming, hiking) is important to maintain an overall healthy life-style.
- Wear medical compression hosiery. Compression hosiery and socks help promote blood circulation by improving venous blood return back to the heart.
- At night or when resting during the day, lie comfortably with your legs slightly elevated.
- Avoid extended exposure to heat from sunbathing, hot baths, or the sauna as excessive heat will cause your veins to dilate and may induce swelling.
T.E.D. Hose: Choosing Between Anti-embolism Stockings and Compression Stockings
Anti-embolism stockings or T.E.D. Hose: are primarily used for the non-ambulatory patient. They are more commonly used by hospitals and nursing homes. Patients who are immobile and confined to bed wear anti-embolism stockings to help prevent blood coagulation.
Compression stockings: are primarily worn by people who are ambulatory and have insufficient venous function in their legs. Typically, those people are more active and spend more time on their feet; causing the return of blood to the heart to fight against the effects of gravity.
Compression
Anti-embolism stockings or T.E.D. Hose are most commonly used by hospitals and nursing homes whose patients' are typically incumbent. Because of this, the circulation of blood is not greatly affected by the forces of gravity. Accordingly, a very light compression is all that is needed to stimulate blood flow. Compression found in anti-embolism stockings can range between 8-18 mmHg.Due to increased gravitational effects, while ambulatory, and in some cases more sever indications, compression stockings offer higher levels of compression that are more therapeutically effective for the ambulatory patient. Over-the-counter stockings can range between 12-20 mmHg. Prescribed compression levels range from 20-30 mmHg and can go as high as 60+ mmHg.
Characteristics
Anti-embolism stockings or T.E.D. Hose, are primarily worn by bed ridden patients; therefore you will find that most are not cosmetically appealing. Openings in the toe area and a standard white color, make anti-embolism stockings aesthetically unappealing for use outside a hospital or nursing home. Also, since anti-embolism stockings are designed for the non-ambulatory patient, they do nor offer a great deal of elasticity and wear resistance for the ambulatory patient.Compression stockings offer graduated compression in a wide range of compression classes. Each stocking provides two-way stretch elasticity that enables a natural freedom of movement and increased wearing comfort during every day use. Compression stockings are durable and resistant to sun, perspiration, ointments and lotions. Most compression therapy garments remain therapeutically effective for up to six months.
What Class of Compression Therapy do you need?
Compression Classes
Class I - 20-30 mmHg
- Restless and fatigued legs
- Minor varicosity without a basic tendency toward edema
- Incipient varicosity in case of pregnancy
- Pose sclerotherapy
- Severe varicosity with tendency toward edema
- Post-traumatic tumidity
- Recovery of moderate ulceration
- After superficial thrombophlebitis
- After sclerosation and/or stripping of the varicosities in order to stabilize the therapeutic effect
- In case of sever varicosity during pregnancy
- Post phlebectomy
- Atrophie blanche
- Dermatoscloerosis
- Conditions resulting from constitutional or post-thrombotic venous insufficiency
- Severe tendency to edemas
- Secondary varicosity
- After healing of sever, recurrent ulcers
- Lymphatic edema
- Lymphatic edema and elephantitis