Mechanism and Prescription Considerations of Compression Stockings

Medical compression therapy is a standard, non-invasive treatment option which is widely practiced and extensively documented for all venous and lymphatic diseases. Patients with lymphedema graduate from bandages to elastic compression stocking/garments once the limb is decongested. To preserve the treatment success achieved during decongestion of the edematous limb, compression stocking/garments have to worn throughout the patient’s life. Especially compression stockings are often prescribed and have the advantage of being more acceptable, relatively easier to put on and less cumbersome than bandaging and pneumatic devices. However, there is a paucity of guidelines derived from evidence reported in clinical trials for the management of patients using compression stockings. The purpose of this document is to review the therapeutic mechanism and prescription considerations of compression stockings for use in clinical practice of lymphedema therapy.