Whether you’re a professional sportsperson or just an avid hiker, you’ve probably heard that compression socks are a great way to boost performance. And you’d be right and thinking so.
But what about walking?
If you’ve found yourself wondering, “Should I wear compression socks while walking?”, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll be giving you the answers to that exact question. Plus, we’ll also let you in on the numerous benefits of using compression socks for walking. So, if you’re curious, explore our full guide below.
What this article covers:
- Should You Wear Compression Socks While Walking?
- What Are Compression Socks?
- Who Should Wear Compression Socks While Walking?
- Benefits of Wearing Compression Socks While Walking
Should You Wear Compression Socks While Walking?
Yes, especially if you enjoy going on extended hikes or walks.
Wearing compression stockings or socks when you walk can help your legs and your health in many ways.
From a shorter recovery time to a reduced risk of injury, there are countless benefits to using them. You’ll find yourself going on longer hikes with less soreness in no time.
And if you get compression socks with grips, you're less likely to slip or have an accident.
What Are Compression Socks?
Compression socks are a type of sock that puts pressure on your legs and feet. They are made of stretchy materials that gently squeeze the muscles in the legs to get more blood flowing.
Compression socks work by:
- Putting different levels of pressure on your legs and feet
- Putting the most pressure on your foot and less pressure as you move up your calf or thigh
- Pushing the blood up towards the heart, improving blood flow and lowering the risk of clots
Who Should Wear Compression Socks While Walking?
Compression socks are an excellent choice for a wide range of people, including:
Because of all the benefits we listed above, they're a great addition to an active lifestyle. You'll notice them quickly improving your performance, recovery, and overall health.
They are great for preventing new issues, as well as treating the issues you might already have.
If you have a pre-existing injury, then compression stockings or socks can also help with this. Even just wearing one compression sock on your injured leg can make a difference.
With compression socks, you can avoid these issues. This is because, as we've mentioned, they increase circulation and lower your chance of blood clots.
This makes them an ideal choice if you spend long periods sedentary at home or at work, or if you’re constantly active.
Benefits of Wearing Compression Socks While Walking
Wearing compression socks while walking has a ton of benefits for not only your legs but also your overall health
In fact, they make some of the best walking socks. In this section, you’ll find out why as we list some of the most important benefits of using them for walking.
Decreased Muscle Fatigue & Soreness
Compression socks put gentle pressure on your muscles, which can help reduce muscle pain and fatigue while walking and after. By bringing more blood and oxygen to the muscles, compression socks can reduce the buildup of lactic acid which will aid in recovery. This, in turn, reduces your chance of leg pain and discomfort.
If you get compression socks that are anti-blister or are summer walking socks, you’ll also reduce your risk of chafing.
Increased Blood Flow & Oxygenation to Muscles
By increasing blood circulation to your muscles and blood vessels, they also get more oxygen. This will make you feel less stiff, while also increasing your energy. In turn, this can help boost your performance and allow you to walk or hike for longer without getting tired or uncomfortable.
Reduced Risk of Injury
By supporting the muscles and reducing the pressure on your tendons and ligaments, compression socks can help you avoid certain injuries. This includes repetitive injuries like shin splints and stress fractures.
If you go for compression socks with grips, you can also avoid injuries by reducing the chance of slipping or falling.
Improved Athletic Performance
It’s a well-known fact that compression socks can also help you improve your athletic performance. In terms of walking, this fact remains true.
You'll be able to exercise with better efficiency for longer and recover faster between walks, games, or workouts.
Enhanced Recovery Post-Exercise
By speeding up muscle repair and reducing swelling, compression socks can also reduce your post-workout recovery time. Not only that, but they also reduce stiffness and pain through their gentle pressure on your feet and legs.
This makes it super easy to keep up your exercise or walking regimen, especially if you like to walk every day.
Improved Balance & Stability
In addition to all their other benefits, compression socks are also great for balance and stability. They improve these things by sending proprioceptive signals to the muscles and joints of the lower leg.
These are the signals that give our brain the ability to determine information without even looking. Pretty neat, isn't it?
This is great if you're older or just struggle with balance.
Reduced Risk of Blood Clots
If you sit or stand for long periods of time, then compression socks are even more important for you.
When you only do one thing, such as sitting or standing, for too long, then your risk of blood clots is higher.
This is where compression socks come in. By increasing blood flow and keeping blood from pooling in your legs, compression socks lower your chance of blood clots. This also means that you’ll have a reduced risk of other blood clot-related health issues such as deep vein thrombosis.
Reduced Swelling
After walking for a long time, you might find your feet and legs swelling up. Compression socks can help reduce leg swelling because they improve blood flow and keep fluid from building up in the tissues.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a ton of benefits to using compression socks for your walks. Because they reduce muscle fatigue and recovery time, they're great for performance and for your health.
When choosing a pair of compression socks for walking or hiking, you should always pay attention to compression level, length, material, and fit.
So whether you're an athlete looking to improve your performance or live a sedentary lifestyle and want to improve your health, compression socks can help almost anyone. Whether you’re looking for walking socks for women or men, we’ve got you covered at Gain The Edge.
Did our blog meet your needs? You might also find our other guides helpful:
- Best Running Socks
- Running Socks: Women
- Do Running Socks Make a Difference?
- How to Measure for Compression Socks
- What Level of Compression Socks Do I Need?
- How Tight Should Compression Socks Be?
- How Long Does It Take for Compression Socks to Work?
- Wearing Compression Socks Too long
- Can You Wear Compression Socks All Day?
- How to Wear Compression Socks
- Best Sock Material
- What Do Grip Socks Do?
- What Are Ankle Socks?
- What Do Compression Socks Do?
- Can You Wear Compression Socks to Bed?
