Expert Advice for Happy, Healthy Legs

When it comes to physical health, one thing is clear: your feet and legs are the foundation of your physical health - literally! In the US, at least 75% of people will experience foot problems at some point in their lives. To avoid becoming a part of this 75%, taking care of your feet and legs is absolutely vital. 

Thankfully, there are a few simple things you can do to maintain happy, healthy legs and feet. In this post, we’ll cover the best and most straightforward ways to look after your feet and legs to help you avoid such problems altogether.

Get Moving

It’s no secret that movement and exercise are essential factors in maintaining your physical and mental health. In fact, movement is arguably the biggest determinant of physical well-being.

Sitting or standing too much is a major problem across the globe, particularly in the workplace. Doing so can cause foot and leg pain, soreness, or swelling. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology even discovered a relationship between standing or sitting too much and heart disease! 

Therefore, one of the key elements in having healthy legs and feet is movement. Taking breaks every now and then to get up and stretch your body (particularly your legs) will help eliminate the mentioned problems and stop them from coming back.

Eat Well

Healthy eating goes a long way in your overall well-being - including your foot and leg health. While eating well doesn’t guarantee healthy legs and feet, it can certainly make a big difference. 

Moreover, maintaining a healthy weight goes hand in hand with a good diet, and both significantly contribute toward your overall foot and leg health. Overweight people are generally more likely to experience foot swelling, so keeping yourself a healthy weight can help reduce this.

Avoiding excessively sugary food (such as candy) is a solid starting point for eating healthily.

Boost Wellness With Compression Socks

Wearing compression socks is a superb way to help boost your leg and foot health. They yield many benefits and look great. If you’re standing or sitting for a prolonged period of time, compression socks will be of great use to you.

When you’re immobile for extended amounts of time, blood can begin to pool around your feet and ankles. This can cause soreness, swelling, and other foot and leg problems. Compression socks are a fantastic way to combat these issues. 

They encourage your blood to travel away from your feet and legs and to your heart. Overall, this improves circulation and reduces swelling and foot pain. Compression socks can also help prevent more severe problems, such as edema and plantar fasciitis.

Get Started With Compression Socks

Getting started with compression socks is easier than you may think! There are two main factors to consider: compression level and sock size. Choosing the right ones for you will help you achieve healthy legs and feet, and luckily, it’s pretty straightforward.

Light and mild compression socks pressurize your feet and legs at 8-15 mmHg and 15-20 mmHg, respectively. These aren’t medical grade and can be sold over the counter. They provide the best relief to those who experience varicose veins or occasional swelling.

Moderate (20-30 mmHg) is the first compression level to be classified as “medical grade.” While socks of this grade can be bought over the counter, doctors can prescribe them too. These compression socks are ideal for soothing varicose veins or aiding injury recovery. That being said, it’s also popular among nurses and other similar occupations where 16-hour shifts aren’t uncommon.

“High” or “firm” compression (30-40 mmHg) can only be prescribed by doctors. These socks are used to assist recovery in moderate to severe leg or foot injuries, as well as blood clots and lymphedema. 

Finally, the highest form of compression (and one that is rarely prescribed) is 40-50 mmHg. These should only be worn if directly told by your doctor that it’s okay to do so. 

As for size, the best thing to do is simply take your measurements! Compression sock sizes are determined by the girth of each of your calves. Ensure you do it first thing in the morning, as your feet will naturally swell throughout the day, and this can give you the wrong measurements.

Health is Happiness

Maintaining your physical health is crucial, and wearing compression socks will truly help optimize your leg and foot health. Crazy Compression understands that health is happiness and aims to provide both high-quality compression socks alongside fun, vibrant designs. If you have any questions about compression levels, sock size, or compression socks in general, we’re more than happy to help!