Socks you wished Santa had delivered
Have you ever plucked a pair of socks from your Christmas stocking? In most cases, you’d probably wish you hadn’t — they are on about the same excitement scale as handkerchiefs.
However, if Santa had kindly delivered TXG compression socks, I suspect your reaction would be quite different. This is because TXG compression socks can make life much more comfortable — particularly if you suffer from a health condition like diabetes, deep vein thrombosis or lymphedema.
What are compression socks?
Compression socks work by reducing the diameter of distended veins in the legs, which results in a speeding up of venous blood flow. The concept has been around for many years and apparently originates from Taiwan where people bathing in hot springs would apply pressure to their legs.
TXG New Zealand imports a variety of graduated compression socks, specifically designed for athletes and sports enthusiasts. Grant Gatland, of TXG, likens wearing compression socks to “strapping your ankle with tape”, but without the mess, of course.
TXG socks are manufactured from a selection of fabrics that apply pressure to the legs, ankles and feet. They offer socks with a variety of compression levels — everyday socks through to socks designed specifically for sports people.
“The compression is graduated,” says Grant. “So, the socks are tightest at the ankles and become less constrictive towards the knees.”
The benefits of compression socks
Dianne wore a pair of TXG compression socks while tramping over the Cascade Saddle in Aspiring National Park: “They are great. They stopped my legs from swelling and helped with my bad knee — I endured no lactose build up in my calf muscles despite the very steep ascent and descent. I will always wear them now and have recommended them to my tramping friends.”
Paula suffers from varicose veins: “Before I started wearing TXG compression socks, I would notice a varicose vein would stand out on my lower leg after only being awake and walking around for about an hour. Now I wear them all day and at the end of the day when I take them off, there is no vein standing out on my leg. The spider veins are still there but even those are less prominent.”
You don’t need to have a health condition to benefit from wearing compressions socks. Athletes have worn compression wear for years — those tight fluorescent pants and arm bands aren’t just fashion statements. What they are wearing is compression clothing, which aids athletes’ performances. The increased blood flow to their limbs speeds up muscle recovery and helps prevent injury. Jeff is a sports enthu-siast and he too wears TXG socks: “I went for a 10km run/walk on the gym treadmill on Friday and went for a 27km walk on Sunday. There was a significant positive difference wear-ing the TXG socks as opposed to regular gym socks. My feet, ankles and calves felt much more supported than normal and those areas were much less tired when I finished — at times my feet and calves felt tingly and bouncy.”
If you suffer a health condition affecting blood circulation in your legs; if you are a keen walker or sports persons, you just might want to try a pair of compression socks. While you’re at it, send this article to Santa.
For more information visit: www.txgsocks.co.nz, or phone Heather on 0800 894 769.