Tip #1: First get a good fit

Compression socks that are too loose are likely to sag, bag, and generally cause you frustration, whereas stockings that are too tight can literally cut you off at the knees, making even walking difficult. What you need is a just-right fit. From the comfort of your own home, the best way to do that is to check out the manufacturers’ size chart and following their measuring instructions. The major manufacturers, including Sigvaris, Juzo, Jobst, and Mediven, all offer sizing information and measuring instructions online. That way you’ll get the fit that’s right for you.

Tip #2: Invest in a few color choices

Compression stockings for men come in a variety of color choices, but because of the potential expense, you may be hesitant to order more than one pair. If at all possible, buy at least one dark pair and one light pair of compression stockings so you won’t be tempted to leave them at home because they don’t match your pants.

Here are a few color choices for men compression stockings:

• Over-the-Calf Dress Socks - Brown, Navy, Khaki, Black
• Over-the-Calf Socks - White
• Mens’ Dress Knee High Socks - Brown, Navy, Black, Khaki

Tip #3: Get them on easily

Compression stockings can be tough to get on, even for the most macho. Try slipping on a pair of latex gloves so your hands don’t snag the stocking’s fibers, and remove all rings before putting on your stockings.

• Easy Roll Stocking Donner
• IT Stays Body Adhesive - helps compression stockings stay up better

Tip #4: Buy brands that last

You can purchase compression stockings for men over the counter at most drugstores and pharmacies, but you may find your money better spent going for quality. Manufacturers such as Sigvaris, Mediven, Juzo, and Jobst offer quality products for not much more than drugstore brands, and they’re made to last for months and years instead of a matter of weeks.

• Top Sigvaris compression stocking
• Top Mediven stocking for men
• Top Juzo compression socks for men
• Top Jobst compression stocking for men

But how well do Jobst compression stockings really work? How easy are they to get on and use? Although medical supply salespeople or catalog operators can offer advice, if you’re forking over money for compression stockings, you want to be sure you’ll like what you get. Here are some comments we’ve found about the quality and use of Jobst support stockings.

One user said of Jobst thigh-high 15-20 mmHg stockings: “Have been wearing support stockings for 14 years. Have always needed ‘It Stays’ to hold them up. Those days are thankfully over. The new Jobst Stocking, with its built-in suction design, stays up without glue. Cleaner, easier, and more comfortable. Good job, Jobst.”

Another user praised the product, with one caveat: “It really helps my painful legs. They are too thick to use during the hot summer of Texas, but can use them at home.”

Of the Jobst brand compression socks for diabetics (men or women can wear this product), one woman noted both benefits and potential drawbacks: “I have mostly appreciated these socks. The price is reasonable, they are soft and comfortable, and they are supportive without making your legs feel squeezed. They do get a bit warm and sweaty sometimes. The top band is mostly very good - not too tight, not too loose. The socks stay up very well - they never turn slack even after many washings. However, the top band has a tiny elastic edge that can leave a red line across your skin after many hours. This tiny elastic edge is not uncomfortable nor does it affect circulation. To avoid developing the red line, I either fold the top edge down or occasionally I wear the socks inside out. For me a pair lasts about a year and then wears out at the heel (I land on my heels pretty hard). I am buying more of these because overall they are very good to have in your pressure-sock collection.”

Another user noted: “These socks are the best. They give your feet and calves life. I am extremely happy with them and have been using them for about 4 years. They are usually difficult to get online but they came on time and as ordered from this vendor.”

The general consensus from user reviews? Jobst compression stockings work great, but can make your legs feel hot and sweaty at times. But if you need gradient compression hosiery for medical reasons, Jobst brand stockings are a great option.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found that the risk of blood clots in stroke patients didn’t improve when they wore thigh high compression stockings. In addition, the researchers reported that 5 percent of patients developed ulcers, dead skin tissue, and blisters.

As a result of their findings, the study authors suggest reevaluating current recommendations that all stroke patients wear support hose after surgery.

Although this research indicates that compression stockings may not reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots and deep vein thrombosis, other research shows that compression garments are often improperly used, even by nursing staff and medical personnel.

Patients are often prescribed the wrong size stockings, they may be instructed to wear thigh high stockings when knee high varieties work just as well, and both medical personnel and patients may have trouble putting the stockings on the right way.

What’s the best brand to use? Compression stockings manufactured by Jobst, Juzo, Mediven, and Sigvaris, come with detailed instructions on how to use the legwear for best results.

Many studies have found that using compression stockings contributes to increased blood flow and reduces the risk of venous disorders. Although this Lancet study found that stroke patients don’t benefit, compression legwear may still help relieve aching, tired legs, reduce the risk of varicose veins and leg swelling, and cut the risk of blood clots during travel and after surgery - but only if they’re used properly.

What are maternity stockings?

This supportive legwear squeezes the veins in the legs, making blood flow more easily and reducing the likelihood of developing varicose legs, which are bulging masses of swollen veins, which often occur in the legs. Varicose veins can occur in other areas of the body, too; when they occur in the rectal area, they’re known as hemorrhoids. Pregnant women who are overweight, carry twins, triplets, or other multiples, or who have a genetic predisposition to varicose veins are more likely to develop them.

What brand should I choose?

Maternity compression stockings don’t have to be unfashionable. There are several popular retailers, including Juzo, Jobst, Mediven, and Sigvaris, that make patterned, colored compression stockings that are perfect for wearing with skirts or professional attire.

Where do I get them?

You can get maternity stockings at a drugstore or pharmacy, medical supply store, or from online retailers. Pregnancy compression stockings come in different levels of compression; the higher the compression level, the more tightly they squeeze the leg veins. Your doctor or midwife may suggest that drugstore legwear is good enough for you, or he or she may recommend higher compression levels available only with a prescription.

How do I use them?

Pregnancy compression stockings should be worn daily, but taken off at night. Slide your foot into the foot of the stockings, and then gently roll the stockings up the leg. Be careful not to tug the stocking into place; you could ruin the elastic compression fibers if you do this. Avoid putting lotion on your legs or wearing rings or other jewelry when you put on your maternity compression stockings. If you have trouble getting the stockings on, you can use a device called a compression stocking aid (or stocking donner) to help make it easier.

Common brands of compression gear for men include Sigvaris, Jobst, Juzo, and Mediven. A sales person at your local medical supply store, online legwear retailer, or running or cycling specialty store can suggest some pros and cons of each available brand.

Compression garments for men come in a variety of styles, including:

• Knee high support hose (available in common men’s sock colors, such as black, white, and tan) and ribbed socks
• Thigh high support hose (also available in common colors like black or tan)
• Compression shorts
• Compression socks
• Compression shirts and sleeves

Before you can buy compression men, you’ll need to measure yourself carefully. Generally, you’ll need to measure the circumference of each calf, thigh (around the top part of the leg, by the buttocks), and knee, as well as the overall length of your leg.

Sigvaris, Juzo, Jobst, and Mediven compression for men come in the following mmHg compression levels (mmHg stands for millimeter of mercury):

• 8-15 mmHg

• 15-20 mmHg

• 20-30 mmHg

• 30-40 mmHg

• 40-50 mmHg

• 50-60 mmHg

Once you choose, you’ll have to learn how to care for your garments properly. Whatever brand you choose, the retailer should provide washing instructions. If you’re using medical stockings, your doctor can tell you how long to wear your stockings each day.

Using your support hose properly will help reduce the risk of varicose veins, ensure your legs are fatigue- and ache-free, and reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis and other ailments. People with diabetes often wear men support socks since their circulation is often impaired due to diabetes.

The health condition lymphedema involves swelling in the arms and legs. When the lymphatic system in your body becomes blocked, fluid may have difficulty draining and circulating. As a result, the fluid has nowhere to go and collects, causing uncomfortable swelling. Although the condition has no cure, sometimes the swelling may be relieved with lymphedema compression stockings.

Lymphedema often develops after a person has surgery, injury, or infection. All of these situations can make it difficult for the lymphatic system to drain lymph fluid. Cancer, radiation treatment, and other diseases may also cause this lymphatic disorder.

One of the most common symptoms of lymphedema include swelling in the arm or leg (the fingers and toes may also swell). If you have this health problem, your arm or leg may feel heavy and tight and it may be difficult to move. If you have lymphedema, you may develop infections in the affected body part, and the skin in that area may become thickened and hard.

If you see a doctor about lymphedema swelling in the arm and leg, he or she may have you undergo tests such as MRI, radionuclide imaging, CT, and Doppler ultrasound.

To treat lymphedema, your doctor may recommend a variety of therapies, including exercise and massage. You may need to wrap your swollen body part with bandages to improve lymphatic drainage. Doctors also often recommend lymphedema compression stockings. These tight elastic stockings squeeze your arm or leg and make it easier for fluid to drain out of your body. Some common brands of compression stockings include Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst, and Juzo. Compression stockings also help prevent swelling if you are prone to this health condition.

Lymphedema compression can make it less likely that your puffy arm or leg will become severely swollen.

mmHg compression stockings come in a variety of brands (such as Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst, and Juzo), styles, and compression levels. Here is a list of compression stocking levels and who they’re used for:

8-15 mmHg compression stocking levels

Doctors typically recommend these stockings for people with aching, fatigued legs; pregnant women; or people with careers that have them on their feet a lot. You can buy 8 to 15 mmHg compression stockings over the counter.

15-20 mmHg compression stocking levels

This therapeutic version of compression stockings is often useful for people whose legs are prone to fatigue and swelling. Pregnant women, people with spider or varicose veins, or people with inherited circulatory problems may need to wear 15-20 mmHg compression stockings.

20-30 mmHg compression stocking levels

Patients with a lot of heaviness and swelling in the legs, mild varicose veins, varicose veins during pregnancy, or who’ve just undergone vein surgery wear 20 to 30 mmHg compression stockings.

30-40 mmHg compression stocking levels

Who wears 30 40 mmHg compression stocking levels? Patients prone to blood clots (such as deep vein thrombosis), post-surgery patients, pregnant women with phlebitis, people with severe leg swelling and scars, stasis dermatitis sufferers, and those with lymphedema.

40-50 mmHg compression stocking levels

People with severe venous ulcers, severe circulatory problems, and lymphedema need to wear these medical grade 40 50 mmHg compression stocking levels.

50-60 mmHg compression stocking levels

People with severe lymphedema, who’ve undergone surgery for compression lymphedema, and severe post thrombotic syndrome need to wear 50 60 mmHg compression stocking levels.

Your doctor will help you decide which compression stocking level is best for you and your medical condition.

When it comes to ease of use and effectiveness, knee length compression stockings win out over thigh high compression stockings, says a study published in the January-February 2009 issue of the medical journal Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Because staff nurses noted that thigh high compression stockings were difficult to use with patients, researchers evaluated the use of different lengths of compression stockings in general surgery and urology patients. They found that compared to thigh high compression stockings, knee length stockings proved:

• more comfortable for patients
• easier for the staff to use
• less expensive
• less likely to cause injury
• just as effective as thigh high stockings

At St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota, where this study was conducted, general surgery and urology patients will now wear knee high compression stockings, and the department of obstetrics and gynecology is considering the change for maternity compression stockings as well.

Graduated compression stockings, such as those made by Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst, and Juzo, are available in multiple lengths, depending on your health condition. If your thigh high compression stockings are uncomfortable or difficult for you to put on, consider using a compression stocking aid - a device that makes it easier to pull the stockings over your legs.

You may also want to talk with your doctor about whether knee length stockings would work just as well to reduce your risk of varicose veins and venous disorders.

Why do varicose legs develop? What causes varicose veins?

The valves in your body’s system of veins help blood flow back to the upper body and prevent it from flowing backward toward the legs. When the valves weaken, though, blood can pool, causing the veins to expand and blue, lumpy knots known as varicose veins to develop.

Who gets varicose veins?

Heredity is a major factor in the development of varicose legs. People who spend a lot of time on their feet, pregnant women, those who fly extensively, and people who are overweight are also prone to varicose legs.

How bad can varicose legs get?

For many people, spider veins (precursor to varicose veins) or varicose veins don’t hurt - they’re just a cosmetic annoyance. For others, though, the veins can ache and make standing for any length of time difficult. In other cases, varicose legs could actually be an indicator of a more serious problem with the circulatory system.

How are varicose legs prevented?

There are a lot of easy ways that the average person can prevent varicose veins. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are key, since these two factors reduce the pressure on the legs and improve blood circulation.

Another varicose veins treatment: compression stockings. Some popular brands of compression stockings are Juzo, Jobst, Sigvaris, and Mediven. These stockings come in different strengths, or levels of compression. They work by gently squeezing the legs so blood can flow better.

A representative at your local medical supply store can fit you for your stockings and teach you how to wear them properly. However, if you want to buy compression stockings from an online retailer, you’ll need to measure yourself. Here are step-by-step instructions to measure yourself for compression stockings. Be sure to record each measurement for each leg.

1. Measure around your ankle (this measurement is called the circumference). Place the measuring tape at the narrowest part of the ankle, above the ankle bone.
2. Find the widest part of your calf. Measure the circumference of your calf.
3. Sit on a chair with your legs at a 90-degree angle. Measure the distance from the bend in your knee to the floor.
4. Find the widest part of your thigh - right under your buttocks. Measure the circumference of this part of your thigh.
5. Measure the distance from the bottom of your buttocks to the floor.
6. Find the widest part of your hips/waist and measure the circumference.

Take these recorded measurements and use them in conjunction with the sizing chart for the brand of stockings you’ve chosen, such as Mediven, Sigvaris, Juzo, or Jobst. All of these compression stocking manufacturers offer sizing charts that will ensure you get the proper fit.