Wear and Care |
The first time you wear your compression garments, you may feel like they are too tight. It may take a few days to become accustomed to the pressure applied to your legs by the garment. To ease into the adjustment, you might consider a gradual transition. Start out by wearing the hose a few hours the first day, increasing by a few hours a day until you can comfortably wear the garment all day long. If you find the compression garment too difficult to put on, please see our Donning Suggestions.
Always put your stockings on as early in the morning as possible to prevent swelling, and allow for easier donning. Apply lotions or ointments to your legs in the evening rather than the morning. Doing so in the morning will make your compression stockings much more difficult to don. Your compression garment should be replaced within 3-6 months. As a general rule, if your garment becomes easy to put on, it probably needs to be replaced.
For best results, Jobst compression garments should be hand washed in warm water with specially formulated Jolastic Washing Solution or a mild dishwashing soap. You can also machine wash your stockings in warm water with a mild, phosphate-free detergent. Putting them into a mesh laundry bag during the wash cycle will also help prolong the life of your stockings. Whether you wash them by hand or by machine, always hang or lay flat to dry. Jobst compression garments should be washed in between each wearing to remove body soil and maintain compression. Thigh High stockings may also require additional care to ensure that the silicone band stays in place. Approximately once a week, you should clean the band using a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Do not use chlorine bleach, fabric softener, or cold water wash on any compression garment, as it will break down the fibers.
In order to reap the benefits of your compression stockings, it is important to wear them everyday. Unfortunately, most conditions treated by compression therapy are on-going, and can become more severe without daily wear of your compression stockings.
Remember, wearing compression stockings is only one step in improving leg health. If you must sit or stand for prolonged periods of time, take the time to get up and walk around, stretching your calf muscles. Feet exercises are also beneficial, pointing and flexing your toes about once every hour. Elevate your feet above your heart as often as possible to help blood fight the effects of gravity. To really optimize leg health, keep excess weight off and wear your compression garment everyday.
If you need additional information, please feel free to contact our customer service representatives at 1-888-292-PROS (7767).