(From left to right, the Mediven Motion Sport 16-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg.)

Features

The Motion Sport is a very forward thinking compression sock. Effectively utilizing synthetic materials and fibers, the Motion Sport is able to manage heat and moisture better than most other cotton sport socks or nylon dress socks. Clima-Comfort fiber technology is used to draw perspiration away from the skin and the soft, plush material on the leg and padded sole gives a luxurious feeling. There is also a ribbed texture on the sock, which stretches out when worn on the leg, providing a cooling effect to relieve excess heat and moisture. The Motion Sport is available in both the 16-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg levels of compression and comes in five sizes so almost anyone can enjoy the benefits the Motion Sport has to offer.

Durability

Mediven’s Motion Sport compression socks are very durable. Made of mostly Polamid and Elasthan, Motion Sport isn’t as fragile as other synthetic dress socks therefore, with its thicker more plush construction, the Motion Sport holds up better to washing and wearing than other dress socks. So you’re covered when you’re playing a sport or walking long distances in airports.

Wearability

The plushy material and cushioned sole wears great on any leg and the cool and comfortable material wicks away moisture, feeling like cotton during sport, travel and daily wear. The Motion Sport is extremely easy to wear, care for and it’s comfortable on your legs and feet no matter what you’re doing. Mediven has made an incredible compression sock.

The Verdict

4.5 Stars – Awesome!

Superb – The Mediven Motion Sport utilizes the Clima-Comfort fibers to ensure cool and comfy feet and legs.

Luxurious – The plush, ribbed design looks great on the leg and feels even better for the person wearing it.

Versatile – Not only is the Motion Sport good for sports, it’s also often worn as a dress sock.

Pregnancy and Vein Health

Veins are responsible of transporting deoxygenated blood back to the heart and other organs so it can be cleaned and replenished with oxygen. With all the changes in the body during pregnancy, the veins and the leg muscles must work extra hard in order to successfully transport the blood back to the heart and vital organs.

When blood is not transported back up the leg, it can pool in the veins. Varicose veins may develop and legs may feel heavy, tired and achy. Pregnant mothers can also experience problems of tiredness, restlessness, heaviness, tension in the legs, tingling sensation, muscle cramps, and swollen feet.

Of women who gave birth, approximately 30% of first time pregnancies and 55% of women with previous pregnancies develop varicose veins. (Swiss Medical Weekly 2001: 131: 659-662).

Blood that pools in veins has a risk of becoming blood clots, and if these blood clots break off, it can have severe health consequences. Other conditions that can emerge include dizziness, palpitation or even a breakdown of the venous valves.

Many factors can contribute to the veins to become unhealthy during pregnancy such as:

1. History of venous disease in your family
2. Existing venous condition previous to your pregnancy
3. Multiple pregnancies
4. Long hours standing or sitting

Tips for Healthier Veins during Pregnancy

Elevate the legs above the level of your heart while you rest. This will also give your veins a rest as gravity will assist the return of the blood to the heart.

1. Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. Take breaks and do some Healthy Leg Exercises.
2. Tight-fitting undergarments should be avoided as it can impede the flow of the blood in the body.
3. Avoid exposure to hot temperatures (hot baths, saunas, sunbathing).
4. Refresh your legs with a cooling shower.
5. Pregnant Mothers should wear Compression Stockings.

Compression stockings provide gradient compression therapy that can alleviate some of the venous pressure from your legs. The increased circulation will help prevent blood from pooling in the veins.

Benefit of Compression Stockings during Pregnancy

Compression stockings (also known as support hose) are specially designed socks and stockings to assist the veins in your legs to transport the blood back to the heart.

Wearing maternity compression socks and stockings is an easy way to promote leg health. More women are discovering the benefits of wearing compression socks during pregnancy. Many people are making compression socks and stockings a part of their daily life and wearing them to work, for sports and travel. No more tired, heavy, achy legs and swollen feet. Compression socks and stockings come in lots of different styles, materials and colors, so it looks like you’re wearing a regular sock. They match your entire wardrobe and they make your legs and feet feel better.

If you have any questions about your health, please consult your doctor.

Have questions? Email us at support@legsmart.com.

(From left to right, 860 Series for Women, Men and Open toe.)

Features

The Select Comfort 860 Series features double covered yarns that make the material softer and smoother, so it’s easier to put on and take off. Sigvaris says that their knit construction is easier to put on, so it’s ideal for patients with arthritis of a limited range of motion. The Select Comfort comes in the full range of styles and colors and is available in the 20-30 mmHg and 30-40 mmHg levels of compression. Knee high and thigh high models are available for both Men and Women. For women, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose are also available. This opaque material covers up blemishes on the skin for a smooth and even look. For men, two dressy ribbed colors are available. Men’s black and men’s khaki have thin ribbing for a professional dress sock look. The Select Comfort 860 Series is also conveniently available in both open toe and closed toe variants. Sigvaris utilizes their Precise Fitting System (PFS) so Select Comfort models come in 16 different sizes for knee high compression stockings and 12 sizes for thigh, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose compression stockings.

Durability

Select Comfort 860 Series compression stockings have good durability and lifespan. The material is not too thick and not too thin. So while you don’t have a sheer fabric, the opaque material covers up blemishes on the skin and spider veins and contains protruding varicose veins. The opaque material is better at containing swelling than fashion compression stockings. With the Select Comfort 860 Series, you’re not as likely to see holes or snags as sheer compression stockings. However, because the material is a soft material, you can still tear a hole or snag the material if you pull to hard. Sharp toe nails can wear a hole in the toes and rough heels or shoes can rub small holes in the heel. The Select Comfort 860 Series is not indestructible, but for what it’s used for, the durability is better than most. Always use proper technique when putting on compression stockings. Also, using Donning Gloves by Sigvaris will protect the compression stocking while making it easier for you to put on.

Wearability

Soft and smooth, the Select Comfort is easy to wear for long periods of time. Because of its durable construction and soft materials, the 860 Series compression stockings are ideal for wear during post surgery, travel or pregnancy. The Select Comfort used for many applications, which makes it comfortable for most people with different skin types and sizes of legs. The most appealing aspect of the Select Comfort is its daily wearability. Many people rely on this model for a variety of uses and thus it’s worn everyday and for long periods of time by many people. There is no latex in the Select Comfort 860 Series so it is safe for individuals with latex/rubber allergies.

The Verdict

4.5 Stars – Great!

Versatile – The Select Comfort 860 Series comes in many different styles, colors and sizes and is used for many different applications.

Durable – The moderate, opaque material make this model easy to put on and take off.

Comfortable – Soft and smooth on the skin, the Select Comfort is appropriate for most leg sizes and skin types.

Features

We’ll give you the scoop on all the features for each product line. Is it sheer? It is made of cotton? Is it strong enough to contain lots of swelling? Does it have any special kind of technology or fibers? Is it good for sports? What size, color, level of compression and gender is this model available in? In the features section, we’ll give you practical details without boring you with the irrelevant technical stuff.

Durability

Next, is our analysis of durability relative to how it’s used, the material and level of compression. This should always be taken into context of the compression stocking. So, when we say a compression stocking is durable, we don’t mean that it will last for five years without replacement and never get holes. We mean that it is more durable than other compression stockings in its class. All compression stockings should be replaced within four to six months depending on how much it’s worn. If a compression stocking gets frequent wear, you may want to replace it in four months instead of six. Sheer, thinner looking fashion compression stockings need to be replaced sooner than a thicker and more durable compression stockings simply because thinner fabrics that are more sheer receive more wear and tear than normal. Whatever the case may be, we’ll give you our recommendations.

Wearability

How a compression stocking wears on the leg is very important to its comfort and effectiveness. Wearability depends on several factors. When discussing wearability, we ask ourselves one simple question, “What’s it like?” This means that we also have to ask other questions. Is the material comfortable on the skin? Is it hot? Does it bunch? Does it slide down? Will the people who wear it experience problems or discomfort when wearing it for long periods of time? We’ll provide our own experiences on the wearability of each product as well as feedback other people have told us about the product.

The Verdict

We’ll give a score one to five stars, with five stars being our highest recommendation for a compression stocking. Remember, take the information we provide here in context. If we rate compression stocking A with 4 stars and compression stocking B with 3 stars, it doesn’t necessarily mean that A is better than B in all cases. There a lot of people wearing compression stockings for a lot of different reasons and for some, B might better than A and for others, vice versa.

Now that we’ve thoroughly confused you with the letters A and B, let’s move on to our closing thoughts. We’ll give you three final words to help sum up the review. That makes it easy for you to take away a final snapshot of the product.

We hope you find our Expert Reviews helpful. And of course, please comment to let us know your thoughts and opinions on the products we’re reviewing.

-Sam
Product Expert
Proud Member of the LegSmart.com Customer Care Team

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Juzo:

Juzo Soft 2000

Juzo Soft Ribbed 2000RI

Juzo 4600

Mediven:

Mediven Active

Mediven Comfort

Mediven Motion Sport

Mediven Plus

Mediven Sheer & Soft

Sigvaris:

Sheer Fashion Thigh High

Sheer Fashion Pantyhose

Sheer Fashion Maternity Pantyhose

Sigvaris Cotton 230 Series

Sigvaris Cushioned Cotton 360 Series

Sigvaris Natural Rubber 500 Series

Sigvaris Truly Transparent 770 Series

Sigvaris Ever Sheer 780 Series

Sigvaris Select Comfort 860 Series

Compression stockings are available in many levels of compression. A 15-20 mmHg (read, “fifteen to twenty millimeters of mercury”) compression stocking is great for daily wear, sports and travel. The support that a 15-20 mmHg sock provides addresses minor leg symptoms such as tired, achy and lightly swollen ankles and legs. The 20-30 mmHg and 30-40 mmHg level of compression provides more support and thus addresses more leg health issues such as swelling, edema, spider veins, varicose veins and blood clots.

All of the compression stockings at Leg Smart are graduated, which means that the amount of compression at the ankle is the strongest and gets lighter up the leg. This increases circulation by preventing blood from slowing down when traveling up the veins to return to the heart and lungs.

List of Indications for Compression Stockings

12-16 mmHg
Heavy, fatigued, tired legs.
Mild swelling of ankles after long periods of standing or sitting.
Tired, achy and swollen feet and ankles during travel.
Sensitive feet from symptoms of Diabetes.

15-20 mmHg
Heavy, fatigued, tired legs.
Mild swelling of ankles during pregnancy.
Mild swelling of ankles after long periods of standing or sitting.
Tired, achy and swollen feet and ankles during travel.

20-30 mmHg
Heavy, fatigued, tired, aching legs.
Mild varicosities during pregnancy.
Mild varicosities and minimal edema (swelling).
Recovery post-surgery for vein procedures.
During recovery period, post-surgery for swelling in the leg due to inactivity.

30-40 mmHg
Moderate to severe varicosities with mild edema during pregnancy.
Mild varicosities and moderate edema.
Post fracture, post traumatic edema.
After sclerotherapy or phlebectomy of larger veins or vein stripping to maintain treatment success.
Venous ulcers.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or Post Thrombatic Syndrome.
Mild primary lymphedema after decongestant therapy to maintain reduction, secondary lymphedema.

40-50 mmHg
Severe varicosities and edema.
Venous ulcers.
Moderate to severe lymphedema.

This article is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions about your health, please contact your doctor.

Compression socks and stockings provide gentle external pressure to the legs in a specific way to help reduce the venous pressure. Venous pressure is the amount of stress that your veins have to deal with because gravity is pulling your blood and other fluids in your down towards the ground. When you stand or sit for long periods of time without movement in your legs, ankles and feet, they start to feel heavy and achy. That’s the venous pressure. When you move your calf muscles, your body naturally squeezes up against your veins to help return blood back to your heart and lungs. Compression socks and stockings also help this natural process.  But just squeezing your legs is not enough to help boost your circulation. What’s special about these compression stockings is that the pressure they apply is “graduated”, meaning that the amount of pressure at the ankle is the greatest and it gets lighter as it move towards the top of the stocking.

Like all things, your veins eventually wear out and they have a harder time trying to get blood to flow back up your leg and to your vital organs. So compression stockings help restore the blood flow to normal by preventing the decrease in blood flow. In addition to boosting circulation, compression garments also helps get the swelling out of feet, ankles and legs.

You don’t have to have a problem with your veins or legs to wear compression socks and stockings. There are lots of different people, both young and old, healthy and active wearing compression stockings. A lot of new fangled technology now allows these cool socks to be made in any color and style. You can get a sport sock that has graduated compression in it for jogging or playing sports. Isn’t that awesome?

Questions? Comments? Drop us a line: support@legsmart.com.

Seated Position Leg Exercises

While sitting, elevate one foot off the floor and alternate flexing and pointing your toes. Repeat with the other foot. Do one set of 20 for each foot.

While sitting, place both feet on the floor and extend one leg straight out in front of you. Hold and contract your thigh muscle. Return your foot to the floor. Repeat with the other leg. Do one set of 10 for each leg.

While sitting, lift one foot off the floor and draw your heel back towards your seat. Hold and contract the hamstring muscle. Repeat with the other leg. Do one set of 10 for each leg.

Standing Position Leg Exercises

March in place while loosely swinging your arms. Lift your legs as high as possible. Do one set of 20 for each leg.

Lift one foot off the ground. With your toes, draw a figure eight in the air. Repeat with the other leg. Do one set of 10 for each leg.

While bearing weight on the toes of one foot, bear weight on the heels of the other foot. Alternate the position of the feet. Do one set of 20 for each foot.

Lying Position Leg Exercises

While lying on your back, place your hands near the lower back for support. Raise both legs in the air and alternate legs in a scissor-like motion. Do one set of 10-15 for both legs.

While lying on your back, place your hands near the lower back for support. Cycle your legs in the air in a short circular motion for 30 seconds. Repeat this exercise as tolerated.

While lying on your back, place your hands near the lower back for support. With the knee slightly bent, raise and lower your leg. Repeat with the other leg. Do one set of 10 for each leg.

While lying on your back, raise one or both of your legs into the air and rotate your feet in opposite directions. Do one set of 20 for each leg.

Phew!

Just looking at those pictures make my legs feel more energized. These exercises are good for just about anywhere: at the office, watching TV and even on the plane. (Just don’t do the lying down ones on the plane.)

Happy exercising and be sure to email us, support@legsmart.com, if you have any questions, comments or embarrassing stories about how you couldn’t hold your balance on #5.