The oedema-protective effect of Lycra support stockings

Oedema may be an early sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), but swelling of the lower legs is a common phenomenon in many people. The distinction between physiological swelling and CVI is not clear. There is a gradual transition between healthy legs and the early stages of CVI. In case of CVI, medical elastic compression stockings are used in order to prevent oedema completely. In case of healthy people without demonstrable CVI, no medical stockings are required in the prevention of oedema but stockings exerting less compression.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mild compression on the development of swelling of the legs and the effect on subjective complaints in healthy subjects.

The diurnal volume change (DVC) of the lower legs during full working days was monitored with an optical leg volume meter in 118 healthy volunteers (60 males, 58 females) without objective symptoms of CVI. The DVCs after wearing two kinds of class I support stockings (X: average pressure at the ankle of almost 14 mm Hg; Y: almost 18 mm Hg) were compared with the DVC after wearing a control stocking (Z: almost 6 mm Hg). Also, the effect on subjective feelings of the legs was noted.

It appeared that healthy people have a mean daily volume increase of the legs of 2.3% in females and 1.6% in males. Mild compression stockings reduced this daily increase with 31 and 18% in males and females, respectively, by stocking X and 37 and 32% by stocking Y. Subjective feelings occurred in 57% of all cases. A beneficial effect on subjective feelings, in particular of tired and swollen legs, was found. A difference in this beneficial effect between stocking X and Y was not obvious.

Mild compression stockings reduce diurnal oedema and unpleasant feelings of the legs in healthy individuals.