How does compression wear help with blood flow?
In: Biology
This is because of how veins work vs arteries. Arteries which carry oxygenated blood from the heart throughout your body are at the “start” of the system and have the most pressure from the heart behind them, they also have “pumps” built into the structure to help move the blood along through the system and into capillaries, they do not have “one way valves” because the pressure is enough to always keep the blood moving forwards.
Veins on the other hand are at the “end” of the system are return the blood to the heart and lungs to be oxygenated again. They have the least pressure from the heart and do not have any “pumping” mechanism other than blood pressure from the heart, they also contain the biological equivalent to a “one way valve” so the blood can only move in one direction. Because of the one way valve any pressure places on them causes the blood to be forced back towards the heart. This can be from compression clothing, such as diabetic socks, but also things like massage or even exercise and the flexing of muscles will put pressure onto the veins and because of the “one way valves” it will always direct that blood back to the heart, improving circulation.
So compression does not help “blood flow” per se, but up to a certain point it does assist with forcing blood through the veins and back to the heart, although too much compression can cut off circulation entirely.
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