There are several reasons for wearing compression socks or sleeves at night. Demanding workouts, running, suffering from varicose veins or swelling. Pregnant women swear by the life-changing effects of wearing compression socks at night.
<p>Compression socks are more and more popular among athletes, nurses and travellers. Sleeves and socks can help enhance athletic performance as well as prevent conditions such as edema, swelling and varicose veins. Can these positive effects be enhanced by wearing compression socks at night?</p>
Should you wear compression socks at night?
Yes, why not? Wearing compression socks at night can improve blood circulation massively. Put on a comfortable pair of graduated compression socks the next time you go to sleep. Your legs will thank you for it. You will wake up refreshed, ready to take on the world.
On the other hand…
If your compression socks are too tight, wearing them at night might have a negative effect.
If you have been wearing compression socks all day long, you need to let your skin breathe sometime. The nighttime is the perfect moment for this. If you must take the socks off for a few hours to allow your legs to relax, why not do it at night?
Sometimes the situation doesn’t improve even after wearing compression socks for several nights in a row. Contact your doctor in this case, maybe more serious issues are stopping you from getting better.
A difference of opinions
Certain people are of the opinion that wearing compression socks at night doesn’t have significant health benefits. Your legs are already lying down, the veins don’t have to fight against the gravity to circulate your blood. So how much can compression socks really help?
Well, in my opinion if they don’t hurt, and they help even a little, they are worth wearing. Why not boost blood circulation, get rid of health issues without side effects.
People recommend putting a few pillows under your legs to get a similar effect as wearing compression socks at night. However I think this is an unnatural sleeping position. It is only a viable option if you sleep on your back.
On this note: Always consult with your doctor about what type of compression socks are the best for you. Maybe you have a health condition that prevents you from wearing compression socks altogether.
Why Wear compression socks at Night?
- Muscle soreness
- Pregnancy
- Swelling
- Varicose veins
- Frequent visits to the toilet
- Arthritis
- Doctor’s prescription
- Sleep apnea
Runners enjoy wearing running compression socks during workouts as well as immediately after their runs. However many runners wonder if they can wear their compression socks at night too. After all one would expect that wearing compression socks longer would speed up the recovery process. Is that so? And would wearing compression socks at night have any side effects?
I used to wear compression socks sometimes after very difficult workouts, or when I was training too much and I needed to recover fast to hit my weekly mileage goals. In this article I am going to argue why I don’t do it anymore, and why wearing compression socks at night is not a good idea.
Mothers can develop varicose veins or restless leg syndrome after multiple pregnancies. The compression enhances blood flow. The blood can’t slow down, or pool up inside the vein. Wearing compression socks at night is guaranteed to end this unpleasant condition.
After all there is a limit to how long somebody should wear compression socks, and all night long seems too long.
A tip: Don’t put on compression socks for the first time and expect to sleep like a baby. The first time you put them on, they will hurt like crazy. They will feel so tight, you will be wondering if they are cutting off the circulation. Wear the socks during the day for a few hours so you can get used to them.
Following doctor’s orders
You might get compression socks or stockings prescribed by a doctor. Make sure to follow the orders of the doctor and wear the socks as prescribed. If you were ordered to wear the socks during the day, then do so. If you have to wear them a limited amount of time each day, don’t go over that period.
A Hygiene Tip
If you wear compression socks every night, they will get sweaty and smelly very quickly. To follow proper hygiene, go to sleep in a clean pair of socks every night. Buy multiple pairs of the model you like, so that you don’t have to keep washing one pair every single day.
What are compression socks an Sleeves Good for?
Compression garments all have their positive effects by helping blood circulation. In the legs the veins constantly have to fight against the force of gravity. With time the valves of the veins tire and the walls of the veins get loose. The diameter of the veins gets bigger, the blood flows slower or even pools up en severe cases. This might lead to varicose veins.
By putting pressure on the skin, the veins get pressured too. They are squeezed, their diameter gets shorter. Thus the blood flows quicker from the legs to the heart.
How does this help recovery?
During workouts the muscles produce waste materials, such as lactic acid. This chemical is responsible for the muscle soreness athletes feel a day or even two days after workouts. The compression socks speed up blood flow from the limbs, thus help the blood flush the lactic acid and other waste materials from the muscles. This process is the reason why runners, cyclists and basketball players wear compression socks after workouts to recover.
Compression socks also put pressure on the muscles. This reduces the vibration of the muscles, which in turn reduces the risk of injury.
Edema is swelling of the limbs caused by the excess fluid’s inability to leave the limb through the circulatory system. Compression socks put pressure on the limbs and thus the excess fluid can leave the legs.
Is there a difference between sleeping in compression socks or sleeves?
Yes, there is. Compression sleeves cover your legs only from the ankles to the knees. They leave the foot free. Therefore the graduated compression can’t heal any issues in that area. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, ankle swelling, or general pain in your foot, it is much better to use compression socks. Sleeping in compression sleeves can solve your calf pain, leg swelling, varicose veins in your calves, or any problems associated with your lower leg. Keep this principle in mind: Always wear compression garments that cover the whole problem area.
Nocturia
Nocturia is a fancy term for getting up a lot to pee at night. It can be a sign of diabetes, or circulatory problems. A study by the national institute of health found that wearing compression socks can help a tremendous amount in fighting nocturia.
Sleep Apnea
Surprise, surprise. Many people would have never guessed that wearing compression socks at night can seriously affect sleep apnea.
A recent study confirmed a wild theory of doctors. Compression socks prevent sleep apnea. How is this possible?
If your legs are swollen, the excess fluid can flow to the neck. Excess fluid buildup can increase the size of your soft tissue. This collapses on the breathing canal and reduce your oxygen uptake. Now you see the connection. Swollen legs lead to increased soft tissue, smaller breathing canal, worse breathing.
Turns out wearing compression socks at night reduced the amount of sleep apnea events by 36%. That is a pretty remarkable rate for something as simple as wearing compression socks at night.
Swelling
Wearing compression socks at night is an effective way to treat swelling. There can be a slight problem. Your legs are usually most swollen in the evening, after a long day of walking around. Maybe they are so swollen you can’t put on your socks.
The legs are least swollen in the morning. This is the time to put on the socks then. To make your legs thin and ready for the application of compression socks in the evening, wear socks during the day. Put them on in the morning, and change to a different pair for the night.
What type of compression socks should you wear at night?
I recommend graduated compression socks for almost everybody. If your doctor recommends uniform compression, then go with his opinion. Otherwise 15-20 mm Hg graduated compression socks will get rid of most symptoms during your sleep.
When Should you wear compression socks?
There is no golden rule about when to wear compression socks and when not to? Every person and every situation is different. People wearing them for medical reason should seek their doctor’s advice about when to wear compression socks. Sportsmen should wear them during workouts and after for a few hours to aid recovery.
People suffering of severe cases of varicose veins, shin splints or plantar fasciitis should wear these products for longer. In extreme cases they should be worn all day. This means putting them on first thing in the morning, and taking them off just before going to sleep.
Women love wearing compression leggings during pregnancy. This helps them avoid swelling, pain, cramps and other unwanted effects of the nine month period.
Pilots and flight attendants wear compression socks to avoid deep vein thrombosis. This condition happens as a result of a blood cloth getting stuck in a vein. During long flights the legs might get swollen as a result of the pressure conditions in the cabin. If you wear compression socks on a flight, you should wear them the whole time. If I am flying, I usually put on my socks right before chocking in, and I take them off in the taxi when I leave the airport.
However to get explicit advice, it is always best to ask your doctor. If your doctor can’t tell you exactly how long to wear compression socks, it might be a good idea to experiment a little bit. Try wearing them for different durations, and see what produces the best results. If you want to read about a few guidelines you can use, here is an article about exactly how long you should wear compression socks.
Conclusion
All in all, wearing compression socks at night can give you a huge boost. If you suffer from varicose veins, swelling, leg fatigue, then you will surely benefit from nighttime compression. Choose the best socks for yourself, make sure they are comfortable and get ready to wake up better than you ever felt.