Does your job have you on your feet all day? OR Does your job have you sitting down for hours on end? Do your legs and feet end up tired, achy, or sore at the end of the day? That tiredness can carry on throughout the rest of your day, affecting your life outside of work too.
For people in these 12 professions, compression socks can help to reduce these workplace side effects! But before you wince and groan, know this – compression socks have come a long way, and they’re no longer limited to the beige knee-high socks your grandma wore around the house. Today they come in a huge variety of styles, lengths, and materials. Whether you’re into quirky duck socks or quiet knit socks, calf sleeves or the full-leg experience – you can find compression socks that will fit the bill without cramping your style.
Benefits of Compression Socks
Whether your job has you on your feet or in a seat, staying in one position for long periods of time can cause blood to pool in your legs and feet, which can cause swelling and pain. Compression socks apply just a small amount of pressure to your legs to increase the blood flow through your legs, pushing it back to your heart. There are a lot of benefits:
- Improved circulation
- Reduced swelling in feet and ankles
- Reduced achiness and soreness at the end of the day
- Reduced risk of blood clots
- Improved lymphatic drainage
- Improved varicose vein symptoms
- Reduced pain from plantar fasciitis
If you’re currently working in one of these 12 jobs and are tired of having sore legs, it might be time to snag a pair and give them a try!
1. Medical Professionals
It’s no secret that those in the medical professions spend a lot of time on their feet. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, home health aides, and more spend large portions of their sometimes 12+ hour shifts on their feet. Some studies have shown that nurses can walk over 4 miles each shift! Compression socks can help medical professionals stay more comfortable while they work, making them a great gift for anyone in the industry.
2. Desk Jobs
The number of professions that fall under the umbrella of “desk jobs” is sky high – and if you ask around you’ll find that sore legs and feet are a common complaint from marketing to sales to customer service. In addition to compression socks, it’s a great idea to get up and take a quick walk every 30 minutes or so to keep things circulating,
3. Air Travel Workers
From pilots to gate agents to flight attendants – if you work in the airline industry, odds are your legs could use a little pick me up at the end of your shift. Compression socks are a top recommendation for air travelers too – as they can help to prevent DVTs, blood clots that can form during prolonged air travel.
4. Teachers
Whether it’s kindergarten or college, our society owes a debt of gratitude to the people who choose to teach the coming generations. Teachers spend a lot of time on their feet in front of their classes, and that can lead to pooled blood, swelling, and tired, achy feet. Compression socks come in a huge range of styles and patterns, so there’s a pair out there for everyone – from the middle school art teacher to the biology professor.
5. Food Service
Chefs, waiters, hostesses, caterers, dishwashers – everyone in the food industry knows about the toll that comes with being on your feet all day in the name of serving people great things to eat. It’s hard to stay passionate about food when you’re in pain – compression socks can help you get through your shift and still have enough in the tank to take care of yourself when you get home.
6. Construction
Construction is a physically demanding job industry, and it’s pretty par for the course to come home feeling the after-effects of a hard day’s work. Many in the construction industry suffer from foot pain and leg fatigue after being on their feet all day. Knee-high compression socks can be found in both a lightweight fabric for warm weather and a heavy fabric for winter months, which makes them the perfect tool to use year-round.
7. Hospitality
The types of jobs in the hospitality industry that have you on your feet all day are as varied as the customers they serve, but they all have one thing in common – tired, achy legs. Whether you’re manning the front desk at a resort, cleaning up after guests, bartending, or giving walking tours of a historic city, compression socks are like a hug for your legs – helping them feel better so that you can do the things you love to do when you get off work.
8. Cosmetologist
When your job is to make other people feel good in their own skin, it can be disheartening to come home and have your own body feel less-than-ideal. While padded floor mats can help, they won’t completely prevent sore legs by the end of the day. Compression socks can be a great addition to your toolkit, keeping swelling down while you’re lifting spirits up. That way, you get to feel good at the end of the day too!
9. Truck Drivers
Truck drivers spend 11 hours a day sitting in place in order to haul the groceries and goods we use every day. During that time, the weight of their leg is balanced on their heel, which also puts them at risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Compression socks can help with the tired, sore, swollen legs that come from sitting down all day, and they can also help alleviate plantar fasciitis symptoms and speed up healing.
10. Retail
From cashiers to stockers to customer service, retail workers are almost always on their feet, which can lead to aching, swollen legs and feet. Compression socks are a relatively inexpensive solution that can help to manage the symptoms, and they come in a huge range of styles and colors, which means you’ll be able to find something that fits company dress code (if you have one).
11. Manufacturing
Since the opening of the first factory, workers have largely been expected to be on their feet. While the manufacturing industry has made many advances since then, it hasn’t changed the nature of the job much – repetitive tasks performed while standing. The repetitive motions coupled with standing all day can put a lot of strain on your body. Compression socks can improve circulation, which can help reduce some of the pain.
12. Creatives
Whether you’re an artist standing at a canvas, a composer sitting at the piano, a woodworker standing in a workshop, or a writer sitting at a laptop, creatives are beholden to inspiration, and when it strikes – the world stops. Marathon sessions of brilliant creative output are deeply satisfying, but can also be hard on the body. When you can, it’s a good idea to get up and walk every 30 minutes. But when you’re writing a death scene or adding finishing touches to a work of art, it’s easy to lose track of time and spend hours in one place. Compression socks come in all sorts of comfy materials and unique colors and patterns, so you can feel comfortable and ready to go the next time inspiration hits.
Bonus: Pregnancy
Being pregnant isn’t a traditional job like the other 12 on this list, but growing a new life can have just as high a demand on the body, is just as vital to our society (if not more), and has even longer hours (24/7 with no breaks) than many on this list, so it deserves an honorable mention. Pregnant people frequently experience swelling and pain in the legs and feet, and compression socks can be a game changer. Putting them on in the morning can help to prevent swelling throughout the day, and leave you feeling a little bit more comfortable by bedtime.
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