If you are wearing compression hose for symptomatic relief of your varicose vein symptoms, you could certainly swim with the hose on. You would need to completely dry the hose after swimming however to prevent irritation of your skin from a wet stocking. When our patients have vein procedures (EVLT, ambulatory phlebectomy, ultrasound guided sclerotherapy), we recommend they wear Class II thigh high compression hose for 2 weeks. We also suggest that they only walk for exercise and therefore they are not swimming during that time period. When you swim you are using your abdominal muscles and pushing blood into your legs. Walking helps to pump the blood and fluid out of yours legs and aides the healing process.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It would be advisable not to swim with your compression hose on. Aside from the effect that chlorine might have upon the hose material, I cannot imagine that allowing soaking wet compression hose to slowly dry on your legs would be comfortable or beneficial.
If you are bound and determined to wear compression of some sort while you swim, you might consider going to a scuba diving supply store and being fitted for a wet suit or wet suit bottoms. They would most certainly provide you with a degree of compression while in the water and would be a much better choice than compression hose designed to be worn solely on terra firma.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

You can swim with them on, but the drying process may be prolonged and your skin
may become macerated and irritated. Perhaps swim with them off , dry thoroughly,
and put baby powder on prior to putting your stockings back on.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Some patients even shower leaving the compression hose on. They then use a hairdryer on their legs to dry them.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Do not swim with stockings on.
When you are horizontal the venous pressure is neutral.
You might notice that the increasing pressure from increased depth
standing in water simulates the reverse gradient of the stockings.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

You can swim with the compression stockings on but it is certainly not necessary. The muscle action of the calf and thighs replace the function of the compression stockings. In addition , once the stockings are wet, they may lose their compression. I would recommend removing them to swim and, if you have trouble reapplying them, then consider getting a donning device.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It is not recommended to swim/ shower on compression stockings. They need to be removed once a day to be washed/dried. The wet compression stockings could irritate your skin.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Sure you can wear the compression stocking while you swim. The stockings dry fairly easily. Over time the chlorine will age the stocking but it there is no harm to you, just slightly increased wear on the stocking.

Published on Jul 11, 2012