Question from Dieter S.: I am 78 years old and have been active in cycling for more than 60 years. I wear support knee socks. Should I also wear them during training, or is it enough to put them on before and/or after training?
Dr Robert Eifler: In recent years, compression therapy for the legs has become fashionable not only for venous disorders, but also for healthy athletes. Initially used by runners, some cyclists can now also be seen wearing compression stockings.
Function: The deoxygenated venous blood from the leg muscles flows back into the lungs via the venous system and the right heart. In contrast to the arteries, the veins do not have strong wall muscles, which therefore cannot guarantee the return flow of blood. Other mechanisms are therefore responsible: on the one hand, the pressure exerted by the working skeletal muscles that surround the veins. On the other hand, venous valves prevent backflow. If the lymphatic or venous system is damaged (varicose veins), this no longer works: the blood builds up in the legs, fluid leaks from the veins or the lymphatic system into the tissue and the legs swell.
The compression stockings build up counter-pressure, which compresses the superficial veins and thus promotes reflux. Very high muscle tone, such as that which occurs when walking at a high level or cycling uphill, also channels the blood back primarily via the deeper subcutaneous veins, which can lead to an expansion of the superficial veins. It is therefore assumed that compression stockings are beneficial during exercise and subsequent regeneration. It is recommended to wear them before training if you have to stand or sit for long periods, for example when working in an office or shop. Or during the day if you train in the evening. This is especially true for athletes with a damaged venous system, i.e. varicose veins, or after thrombosis.
Whether you wear the stockings during training is also a question of taste - it is probably helpful. If you are lying down, however, you don't normally need to wear the stockings as the backflow of blood is less of a problem.
