As arthritis progresses, feet can become stiff and swollen. This can make it hard for people with RA to wear socks comfortably and without pain.
Fortunately, there are many options for socks for arthritis, including compression, heated, and prescription socks. You can also use a sock aid to help you put on socks.
1. Compression Socks
Compression socks for arthritis help people suffering from pain and inflammation. They increase blood flow and decrease joint swelling.
When joints swell, they pinch surrounding nerves, causing numbness and tingling sensations. This makes it hard to feel your feet and legs, which can lead to loss of balance and difficulty walking.
By preventing fluid build-up, compression socks for arthritis reduce swelling and ease numbness and tingling sensations that come with swollen joints. They also help the muscles and joints that are swollen work more smoothly, says Cary Zinkin, DPM, a podiatric physician and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
Socks for arthritis that offer varying degrees of compression can help people manage their symptoms and maintain a healthier lifestyle. For example, a standard pair of socks with 15-25 mmHg of compression is enough for most people.
2. Heated Socks
Heated socks are a great way to keep your feet warm and cozy. They can also improve circulation and relieve pain from stiff or swollen feet that can come with arthritis.
Heated sock options can be purchased from your local drugstore or online. Some of them run on removable, rechargeable batteries and have multiple heat settings.
Heated Colorful Socks are a type of socks that have heating elements built into them to keep your feet warm in cold weather. They come in a variety of colors and designs, making them a fun and stylish way to keep your feet warm. They are available for men’s and women’s sizes. These are a bit more expensive than some other socks, but they’re made with a thin battery pack that doesn’t add much weight or bulk to your shoes.
They’re also easy to operate and use a single button that controls both the power and temperature settings. These socks can warm up in just one minute, but they’re designed for the toes so they won’t heat the entire foot.
3. Prescription Socks
Prescription socks and stockings are designed to stimulate circulation, reduce swelling, and prevent blood clots. They can be helpful for many medical conditions, including arthritis and varicose veins.
Doctors prescribe compression socks or stockings to control swelling and pain caused by vascular diseases, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), spider veins, post-thrombotic syndrome, and chronic venous insufficiency. They can also prevent pulmonary embolisms, which are dangerous blood clots that travel to the lungs and cause serious complications.
Compression socks are available in a variety of strengths, measured in mmHg. The lowest level has 15-20 mmHg, while the highest is 40-50 mmHg. Those with lower compression levels might be more comfortable than higher ones, so talk to your doctor about the right pressure for you.
4. Sock Aids
Sock aids help with putting on socks and stockings, which can be very challenging for those with arthritis or other mobility issues. These devices eliminate the need to bend down, reducing strain and injury on the back, legs, arms, and hands.
They are also great for people who are recovering from surgery or who have limited mobility due to a variety of health conditions. They also make putting on compression socks easy, which is especially helpful for those who wear compression stockings regularly or have swollen feet.
Sock aids can come in various shapes and sizes, but most typically have a loop handle that is attached to a continuous loop cord. The cords are adjustable, so you can adjust them to the length you need to reach the floor while sitting down.
