Swelling starts at the bottom
Standing or sitting still lets fluid settle in the feet and ankles. That is why shoes feel tight by hour eight and sock marks sit deep at the end of a shift. Support is most useful exactly where the pooling happens.
Edema is fluid collecting in the tissues, and in the legs it usually shows up as tight shoes, puffy ankles and deep sock marks after a long day upright. Graduated compression supports the veins that move that fluid back up. NursingRx knee-highs are 14-18 mmHg — an everyday support level for mild, activity-related swelling, not a replacement for medical-grade therapy.
Standing or sitting still lets fluid settle in the feet and ankles. That is why shoes feel tight by hour eight and sock marks sit deep at the end of a shift. Support is most useful exactly where the pooling happens.
NursingRx knee-highs are firmest at the foot at 18 mmHg, ease to 16 mmHg at the ankle and 14 mmHg at the calf. That downward-to-upward gradient supports venous return rather than squeezing one spot evenly.
This is a light, over-the-counter range suited to mild, activity-related swelling from long shifts, travel or pregnancy. Diagnosed lymphoedema, venous ulcers or chronic venous insufficiency are usually managed with higher medical-grade pressures prescribed by a clinician.
Put them on in the morning before swelling builds, and keep them on while you are upright. Reaching for a firmer sock after your ankles are already puffy is less effective than an early start in the right size.
For mild swelling from being on your feet, travelling or pregnancy, 14-20 mmHg is the usual over-the-counter range, and NursingRx sits at 14-18 mmHg. Persistent or one-sided swelling, skin changes or a diagnosed venous condition call for an assessment first — your clinician may prescribe 20-30 mmHg or higher.
Daytime wear while you are upright. Pull them on in the morning, keep them on through the shift or the flight, and take them off in the evening so you can look at your skin. There is no benefit to wearing them overnight unless a clinician has told you to.
No. Compression manages swelling while you wear it; it does not treat the cause. Elevating your legs, moving your ankles regularly and reducing time standing still all help alongside it.
Measure your calf at its widest point in the evening, when it is at its largest. S/M fits US shoe size 8 and below, L/XL fits size 9 and up. Size up if you are on the line — a sock that digs in at the calf band restricts rather than supports.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Get assessed before relying on compression if any of these apply:
Swelling in one leg only, especially with pain, warmth or redness
Sudden swelling, or swelling with shortness of breath or chest pain
Swelling that does not settle overnight or keeps getting worse
Skin that is broken, weeping, discoloured or ulcerated
Known heart, kidney or liver disease, or uncontrolled heart failure
Arterial disease, diabetic neuropathy or reduced sensation in the feet
Related reading: how long to wear them, compression socks for nurses, compression socks for plantar fasciitis, pregnancy compression socks and the answers hub.
Tested by nurses. Designed for long shifts.
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