Compression Socks for Ankle Injuries

RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) cover the first stages of treatment after an ankle injury.

Socks with medical-grade gctech compression technology provide the perfect type of compression to reduce swelling and discomfort in these cases, as well as providing support to aid joint positioning.

Socks with gctech are an ideal product to wear after any type of a ankle injury. Whether it is a soft tissue or bone injury, once the damage has been assessed, compression will be prescribed to speed healing, reduce bruising and control swelling.

As you recover, well fitting compression socks will help ease discomfort and boost recovery. The compression of the socks around the joint will also provide some mild support and aid proprioception to help prevent reinjury. 

Compression Socks for Calf Tears

When the calf muscle is strained it's usually due to a tear in the muscle. Symptoms vary from mild to severe based on the grade of the tear. The sudden sharp pain that is often felt is followed by bleeding and swelling inside the muscle.

Doctors often advise Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (R.I.C.E) to aid recovery. Socks with gctech are ideal to help reduce swelling, and control pain; especially if rest and elevation are difficult during the day.

Compression Socks for DVT Prevention & Post-DVT

Proper medical-grade compression socks squeeze your calf muscle (your second heart) and veins with graduated pressure to help push blood up and out of your legs faster, preventing pooling. Wearing compression greatly reduces the chances of developing a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis - a potentially fatal blood clot). Our products come with gctech medical-grade compression technology built in, and are designed to keep you healthy and safe.

Compression socks are an effective way of preventing and treating DVT when manufactured and fitted to high standards.The veins in the legs are responsible for returning blood back to the heart. They have special valves to prevent backflow and are aided by the calf muscle  pumping blood back through the veins. Compression socks prevent pooling and backflow when the calf muscles are immobile.

In the acute stages after a DVT, the risks are managed with anti-coagulants and stronger levels of compression. As the person's condition stabilises, Class 1 compression may be prescribed for lifelong wear everyday to manage future risks.

Post-Operative Compression 

Any major operation carries the risk of DVT and surgeons say you're at greater risk up to six weeks following major surgery, especially on the abdomen, pelvis or lower limb. If your surgery is followed by a long period of immobility, compression may be required until you return to full activity.

A medical-grade compression sock with gctech will help reduce that risk, plus help with any swelling in the lower limb. Compression socks are a vital part of the recovery process after any major surgery.

Why VR Compression Socks after Surgery?

One of the problems with hospital compression socks is that while they are effective, they are often uncomfortable to wear. The VR compression sock range have been designed specifically to eliminate this problem by textile engineers and surgeons, yet importantly conform to European standard of Class 1 compression.

These factors make this range far more comfortable than usual hospital stockings. Thus they can be worn for extended periods post operatively, reducing the risk of DVT and helping with lower limb swelling.

When to Wear VR Compression?

Your surgeon or nurse should advise you on how to wear this product. It is usually necessary to wear compression socks directly after your surgery and for 6 weeks after your discharge. They can be worn for 24 hours a day as a replacement for normal socks, ideally a few pairs of socks should be used in rotation to allow regular washing of the product.

Compression Socks to Ease Shin Splints

Shin Splints (also know as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome) are pains in the front of the leg especially after exercise. They are believed to be caused by a defect in the way your body regulates pressure inside the muscle compartments of the legs. Total rest is the main treatment but if this isn't possible, VR Compression can ease the discomfort during and after activity.

Shin splints can be one form of Chronic Compartment Syndrome (exertion induced).

Patients have reported significantly decreased pain levels and improvements in their symptoms. Compression sleeves can be worn during activity and socks can be worn at any time.

Compression Socks to Reduce Ankle Swelling

Swollen ankles (often unkindly referred to as Cankles) are uncomfortable and unsightly. Compression can make them a thing of the past and improve your leg measurements over time.

The tightest part of the measured compression is around the ankle, so fit when your ankle is swollen is most important to ensure you are comfortable. If the compression is applied in the morning, before any swelling occurs, you will see and feel a noticeable difference in your legs. 

Over time, wearing compression daily, our customers have happily seen reductions in their ankle measurements and reported feeling much more energised.

Compression Socks to Ease Tired Legs

Why does putting your feet up in the evening feel so good? It's because of gravity. At the end of a long day our legs feel tired and heavy because gravity causes blood to pool in our ankles and feet. Socks and tights with gctech compression technology work like antigravity shields fighting the effects of gravity on a daily basis, stopping swelling and keeping your legs fresh throughout the busy day.

With 50% of over-50s suffering problems with the veins in their legs, wearing super-comfy compression socks every day will help keep legs healthy and fit for longer. At the end of long day most of us can relate to the fact our legs feel tired and heavy. This is because during the day gravity causes blood to pool in your ankles and feet.

Over time, the same pooling that leaves you feeling tired and achy can develop into more sinister issues like varicose veins and oedema. As so many people have a proven problem with the veins in their legs, it is sound advice to make good quality compression part of your normal wardrobe.

Our range of products will help you chose something which will fit your routine no matter what you have planned for the day.

Compression Socks to Reduce the Development of Varicose Veins

We all know what spider and varicose veins look like, we may blame genetics or a job that imposed a lot of sitting or standing. Why not prevent them or stop them in their tracks?

Compression socks with medical-grade compression technology are the best non-surgical way to reduce the symptoms and long-term side effects of varicose veins. The cause is often poor venous return, which can also lead to pain and heaviness in the legs, skin discolouration and even ulcers.

Varicose veins are a common medical problem that many people suffer with and in some people they can be very severe. The condition is where the veins become swollen and enlarged often blue or deep purple in colour. Typical symptoms include, aching, heavy legs, swollen feet and ankles often causing muscle cramps.

All VR products are designed to control the development of the condition and ease the discomfort caused by the dysfunctional valves in the veins, but the selection below offer best relief for those with a developed condition. They will prevent the veins from worsening, ease symptoms and may even help reduce bulging.

If you're considering surgery on your veins, the first thing a consultant will do is prescribe compression for daily wear over 6 weeks pre and post procedure to get your legs and veins in optimum condition. Why not try it for yourself and see the difference a little support can make.

Made to Measure Compression Socks

Whatever your medical condition or if you suffer from aching and tired legs, it is vital that the compression you wear fits you properly. Our standard range has been designed to fit most people but we understand not everybody will fall into these sizes. To ensure everyone has access to compression we have a machine that is dedicated to making unique garments. This allows us to create products to exact user measurements. So if you fall outside our standard sizing or want a custom made item, our made to measure service can create a product crafted to your exact measurements.

Buyers' Guide for Compression for Healthcare and during Rehabilitation or Injury

VR compression socks with graduated compression (gctech™) offer a well researched and clinically proven method of helping people to promote the health and recovery of their lower limbs. The fatality rate from DVT is estimated to be up to 60,000 per year, 5 times that of road traffic accidents, breast cancer and HIV combined. Again wearing compression socks can help reduce this risk.

Effects of Gravity

The calf muscle acts like our 'second heart'. It supports the movement of blood from the peripheries back to the heart via the venous system. As the lower legs take our entire weight for most of the day they are prone to the effects of gravity. In the short term this can lead to swelling and fatigue in the lower limbs, in the long term this can lead to varicose veins and ulcers which effect 25% of the population .

The 'Anti-Gravity' Sock

Socks made with gctech™ are designed specifically to apply a known level of pressure to different points on the lower limb, tighter at the ankle and less tight at the calf. This supports the lower leg, helps blood move out of the leg faster and effectively counteracts the negative effects of gravity on the lower leg. Thus wearing socks with gctech™ as a replacement to your normal socks will reduce standing fatigue in the lower limb, reduce swelling and counter-act any symptoms of varicose veins. Thus making it an ideal 'daywear/occupational' sock.

Advantages of wearing socks containing gctech™

• Less tiredness in the calf
• Reduced swelling at the end of the day
• Additional protection from DVT when traveling

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?

During or after surgery a blood clot (or thrombus) can form for the following reasons:

• Surgery will cause trauma to the endothelium (inner surface of blood vessels)
• Your body will be prone to over-clotting, or hyper-coagulation
• The blood in the veins of your leg will slow down due to your incapacity after surgery. This can cause the blood to "pool" in the deep veins.

This trio of activity is well-known in the medical profession to be the main factors that predispose patients to clotting. In particular these clots often form in the deep veins of the lower limb, know as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A smaller clot can consequently break off from this bigger clot and travel up the blood system into the lungs causing major and sometimes fatal consequences.

Unfortunately the risk of developing a DVT is increased in the weeks after major surgery and your surgeon will explain ways in which to reduce this risk . One method to reduce the risk is to wear well-fitted, medical grade Class 1 graduated compression socks, such as those recommended by Compression Advisory.

Why VR+ socks on leaving hospital?

One of the problems with hospital compression socks is that while they are effective, they are often uncomfortable to wear. Socks with gctech™ have been designed specifically to eliminate this problem by textile engineers and surgeons, yet importantly conform to European standard of Class 1 compression.

They have been designed with high quality materials and special agents that aid compliance.

These factors make socks with gctech™ far more comfortable than usual hospital stockings. Thus they can be worn for extended periods post operatively reducing the risk of DVT and helping with lower limb swelling.

(Additionally they are the compression sock used by the vast majority of professional sports teams for travel, recovery and performance)

When to wear socks with gctech™?

Your surgeon or nurse should advise you on how to wear this product. It is usually necessary to wear socks with gctech™ directly after your surgery and for 6 weeks after your discharge. They can be worn for 24 hours a day as a replacement for normal socks, ideally socks should be used in rotation to allow regular washing of the product.