PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON ECONOMY- CLASS SYNDROME:

It’s no surprise that a long flight in a cramped seat can produce swollen, aching feet and legs. The blood in your veins has to work against gravity to flow back to your heart— an oomph you get by movement, and don’t get when prone, resulting in blood pooling painfully in the veins of the lower legs and feet. Knowing this, how come it took so long for us otherwise savvy travelers to get into graduated compression socks? Long relegated to the legs of old or injured folks, too weak-muscled to counter gravity’s forces, the socks have finally pushed their way into widespread use by more vigorous beings. What’s not to like about the relief they provide by squeezing the lower leg tissues and walls of the veins just enough to boost circulation but not so much that they squash or numb? A bugle blast please for the new knee-high Progressive Compression Run Socks 2.0 from CEP, a standout manufacturer of top-notch compression socks. Boldly debuting in bright shades of blue, pink, purple and other neon hues, with swirls of contrasting colors at strategically engineered support sites, the socks are rated a clinically effective 20-30 mmHg pressure from ankle to calf, then loosen to 18 mmHg over the calf. A soft-to-thetouch knit of 85 percent nylon and 15 percent Spandex, the socks have a ventilation-enhancing open-pore mesh weave at the calf, and comfy padding in the soles. A sleeker model, the Progressive Ultralight Compression Run Sock, is 30 percent lighter and has less foot padding. The socks provide great support for long walks, and long sits, say, at cultural performances, but should never be worn unmonitored overnight. Take a breather if they start feeling uncomfortable, or choose a lower compression level model if this one is just too tight. Graduated compression socks may be unsafe for some medical conditions, so check with your doctor if in doubt.