Women have been fortunate enough to be able to choose from an ever growing and widening selection of knee high, thigh high and full length compression or support pantyhose.  Women in the developed parts of our world have found relief in the revitalizing properties of compression and support hosiery for decades, while men had to content with a very limited selection of compression socks trying to combat their leg ailments.

Today’s graduated compression hosiery has evolved well beyond your grandmother’s rubber compression stockings.  In fact they have become so fashionable that they can even be seen on runways worn by models.

In recent years, many savvy men have discovered what women have been taking for granted for a long time.  Support and compression stockings with gradually decreasing compression from ankle to thigh (also called graduated compression) seem to have the uncanny ability to lessen or completely eliminate a number of aches and pains in your legs.  During long hours of standing or sitting in your job a well-fitting support or compression hose can be like an ongoing leg massage continuously energizing and invigorating them throughout the day.

Compression and support hose is no longer the sole domain of women.  Men from all walks of life have discovered their benefits and are taking advantage of it.  There are countless male truck drivers, waiters, office workers, retail clerks, fire fighters, policemen, surgeons, nurses, lab workers, dentists and a host of other professions who spend long hours on their feet.  Many of them have found new energy and lasting relief from all kinds of aches and pains in their legs simply by wearing support and compression hosiery.

If you need proof, just spend some time searching the product review sections of online retailers and department stores.  Often you will find as many or more product reviews for support and compression hosiery posted by men than women enthusiastically reporting about the great relief and rejuvenating energy they are receiving from regularly wearing their compression or support hose.

Are you surprised?  You shouldn’t be.  Isn’t it only fair that men should be able to enjoy the health benefits of compression stockings too?  Unfortunately there are also still (too) many men and women that are unaware or underestimating what these support garments could do for them.  All too often leg aches; pains and discomfort get ignored or blamed on the weather or something other intangible.  The truth is that heaviness, achiness and pains in the legs occurring on a regular basis maybe even accompanied by mild swelling in the ankle area can be the precursors of the onset of a venous illness.

Without any treatment such seemingly benign conditions and symptoms can gradually turn into more serious edema, inflamed and/or infected veins or even deep vein thrombosis (blood clots).  In an advanced stage it can also lead to ulcerations of the lower leg (also referred to as Ulcus Cruris).   Wearing compression and support stockings (compression therapy) as a basic treatment for the described mild symptoms or as a preventive course of action can help to overt more serious damage and deteriorating conditions of the venous system in the legs.

The most important thing with compression and support hosiery is that they must fit just right.  That means not too loose and not too tight, no pinching, bunching up or any kind of tourniquet effect anywhere.  If you have difficulties determining the proper size and fit we suggest to have your legs measured and fitted with compression stockings by a qualified employee at your nearest medical supply store or pharmacy.

Last not least a word of caution.  Before wearing any type of compression or support garment check with your physician to ensure there are no contraindications!

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