It's been half a century since the late Allen Gant introduced the first pantyhose in 1959. Little did he know how popular they would become, how they would influence women's fashion, and how they would eventually bring about the development of support hose. Today both men and women wear support hose because of the health benefits. Support hose is ideal for athletes, individuals in sedentary jobs and jobs requiring standing for long periods.
Definition
Support hose, also called support stockings or compression stockings, are made out of strong, elasticized material to increase tissue pressure and improve blood flow in the legs. According to Leg Care, support stockings are designed to fit tightly at the feet; the tightness lessens gradually in the knee and thigh areas. The stockings constantly squeeze the leg muscles, helping to return blood to the heart. Support stockings provide three major benefits.
Comfort
Support hose provide comfort to aching, tired legs and apply gentle pressure to soothe and massage the legs, improving circulation and reducing leg discomfort. Support stockings are ideal for athletes and health care workers, clerks and airline pilots and others who regularly travel by airplane, train, car or bus for long distances.
Prevention
Wearing support stockings can help prevent poor circulation in the legs and swelling of the feet, ankles or legs. They can also help prevent varicose veins and spider veins--small, round spots with tiny red veins spiraling outward.
Medical
Support stockings may be used for medical conditions such as slowing the development of varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency--when the leg veins cannot adequately pump blood back to the heart. Support stockings may also be used to help prevent deep vein thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot in a vein. According to the Mayo Clinic, support hose reduce the risk of a clot breaking off and causing a pulmonary embolism--blockage of an artery to the lung.
