How Do Compression Socks Aid Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a very painful injury that can make it very difficult to walk or to even stand. If you haven’t experienced plantar fasciitis yet, it is a type of injury that occurs in the plantar fascia, which is a tissue that connects the forefoot from the heel and provides support for the arch. When you have plantar fasciitis, you will experience a lot of pain in the arch and heel of your affected foot, and this pain can often be debilitating.

Thankfully, there are now various kinds of treatments that can be used for plantar fasciitis, and one of these is done by wearing compression socks. What are compression socks? And how is it effective in treating plantar fasciitis? To know more, here is a guide to compression socks and their usefulness as an aid for plantar fasciitis.

What are Compression Socks?

black compression socks

Compression socks are a type of socks that apply pressure on the feet. So, compression socks would feel much tighter on your feet compared to regular socks, and while the tightness may feel uncomfortable at first, this compression is important due to the various benefits that it provides for your feet.

Compression socks can come in different lengths and sizes. There are low-cut compression socks that only go below your ankles, while there are also high-cut compression socks that can provide pressure or compression not only on the feet but also on the lower legs.

How Can Compression Socks Aid Plantar Fasciitis?

putting on high-cut compression socks

For those that have plantar fasciitis, wearing compression socks can help in reducing strains on the arches and ankles of the feet. [1] Plantar fasciitis can become more painful whenever you overextend your foot, so compression socks can prevent that and allow your plantar fascia to stay in its natural position. In addition to reducing or preventing overextensions, compression socks also provide support for the arches so that they wouldn’t move too much whenever you are walking or standing.

Compression socks are beneficial for the healing process of the plantar fascia, as the socks prevent excessive movements of the tissue, which can lead to severe pain and inflammation. While compression socks aren’t a permanent form of treatment for plantar fasciitis, they can help in reducing symptoms that worsen over time without compression socks.

What are the Other Benefits of Compression Socks?

Besides being an aid for plantar fasciitis, compression socks can also do other things for your feet. Here are the other benefits of wearing compression socks.

Reduce Swelling in the Feet

Compression socks can help in reducing swelling in the feet, which usually happens when the feet are overused or are suffering from injuries. With compression socks, the swelling is reduced since the pressure applied by the socks forces the muscles to stay in their original position and appearance with no room to swell. If you are wearing high-cut compression socks, you can also reduce the swelling in your legs and ankles.

You may also try using one of our 5 Best Anti-Inflammatory Creams Over The Counter to reduce the swelling in your feet in addition to using compression socks.

Prevent or Reduce Varicose Veins

compression socks for treating varicose veins

Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins that appear under the surface of your skin. These varicose veins are usually found in the legs and feet, but they may also appear in the hands and arms. There are no specific causes for varicose veins, but many experts believe that obesity, overuse of the legs and feet, and family history can be the probable causes of this condition. [2]

By wearing compression socks, you will be able to prevent or at least reduce the appearance of varicose veins in your feet and lower legs, as the socks compress your blood vessels to ensure that they don’t become too enlarged and twisted.

Improve Blood Circulation

Oxygen is an element that our muscles need to heal whenever they are experiencing pain, soreness, and inflammation. A natural way for these muscles to get oxygen is to retrieve it from blood, which carries oxygen in different parts of the body.

By having poor blood flow, our muscles wouldn’t be able to get a regular supply of oxygen. So, whenever they are feeling pain or soreness, the muscles may have a hard time healing since they don’t get a lot of oxygen from the blood. Compression socks help stimulate the blood vessels on the legs and feet so that they will work more efficiently to give regular blood and oxygen supply to tissues and muscles. With good blood circulation, your plantar fascia will also be able to heal faster.

Provide Comfort and Protection for the Feet

man putting on compression socks on his foot

Compression socks still provide the same benefit as regular socks, and that is to provide comfort and protection for the feet. If you don’t have socks on while wearing shoes, there is a high chance that you can get blisters caused by the friction made between the interior of the shoes and your feet. By wearing socks, you will be able to prevent blisters and other kinds of wounds from occurring on your feet.

Moreover, compression socks are also made from soft fabric that can offer cushioning and comfort for the feet. So, compression socks can help in making your feet feel comfortable while you are walking with shoes or barefoot.

These are just some of the best benefits that you can get by wearing compression socks. After you have used the socks to treat plantar fasciitis, you can still wear the socks since it has other benefits besides allowing your plantar fascia to have a quicker recovery. Use compression socks for working, exercising, and playing sports and see how beneficial it is in reducing foot pain and inflammation.

In addition to compression socks, there are also other foot products that you may use to aid plantar fasciitis. If you are interested, you may read our Guide to Selecting Essential Foot Products for Plantar Fasciitis.

References

[1] Donnelly, Rory. (2021, November 19). How Does Compression Socks Help With Plantar Fasciitis? Copper Clothing. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.copperclothing.com/blogs/post/compression-socks-for-plantar-fasciitis

[2] BASS Vein Center. (2021, July 19). Varicose Veins: A Common Side Effect of Obesity. BASS Vein Center. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.bassmedicalgroup.com/vein-center-blog/varicose-veins-a-common-side-effect-of-obesity