Graduated means the pressure is not the same all the way up. It is firmest at the ankle and eases as it rises through the calf.
Why the gradient matters
Blood returning from your legs has to travel upward, against gravity, through veins that rely partly on the movement of your calf muscles to keep things moving. When you stand still or sit for hours, that return slows and fluid tends to settle in the lowest part of the leg, which is your ankles and feet.
A graduated sock applies its strongest pressure at the bottom, where the fluid collects, and less pressure higher up. That difference in pressure supports the natural upward flow rather than working against it.
What happens without a gradient
A sock that is uniformly tight, or one that is too small so the cuff grips the widest part of your calf, creates the opposite. A tight band high on the leg can act like a ring and trap fluid below it. This is the mechanism behind the common complaint that compression socks "made my ankles worse."
It is almost always a sizing problem rather than a compression problem. See what to do if you are between sizes.
What it does and does not do
What it is for: supporting circulation through the day, and helping heavy, swollen-feeling legs feel lighter and more manageable while you are working, sitting, commuting or travelling.
What we will not claim: that a sock prevents blood clots, stops varicose veins forming, or treats any medical condition. Compression is a comfort and support garment. If you have a specific medical concern about your legs, that is a conversation for your doctor or midwife.
Symptoms that need a clinician
