Compression & Wound Care · Modern Answers
Why Do Compression Stockings Roll or Slide Down?
· 5 min read
At a glance. If your compression stockings or socks keep rolling down or sliding, the usual causes are the size or length, how they are put on, worn-out fabric, or a change in your legs. Check those first. If it keeps happening, get remeasured. Do not fold the top band over to hold them up.
Jump to: Get help right away · Why it happens · How to stop it · Quick checks · Remeasure · What not to do · FAQ
When to get help right away
Stockings that roll or slide are usually a fit problem. But some leg symptoms need medical help.
Some symptoms can mean a blood clot. Get medical help.
In one leg: swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth, or redness or discoloration. See a doctor as soon as possible. About half of people with a leg clot have no symptoms.
Call 911 immediately for: difficulty breathing, chest pain or discomfort that usually gets worse with a deep breath or cough, coughing up blood, a faster than normal or irregular heartbeat, or lightheadedness or fainting.
If a stocking has rolled into a band that hurts, or you notice numbness, pins and needles, or skin that turns cold, blue or purple, take it off and contact your clinician.
Why stockings roll or slide down
A well-fitted stocking should stay put. One manufacturer (Juzo) says a properly fitted medical compression garment should stay in place. When yours does not, these are the common reasons.
The size or length is wrong. The garment may be too big, too small, or not shaped for your leg. One manufacturer (medi) lists the wrong size or length as a reason stockings slip, form wrinkles or pinch.
They are not on the way they are meant to be worn. If the top band is folded, turned down or twisted, the stocking can roll. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS says not to fold or wrinkle the material when worn. A fitter can show you how to put them on, and our step-by-step guide covers the steps.
The fabric is worn out. Elastic fibers lose their stretch with wear and washing. MedlinePlus advises replacing stockings about every 3 to 6 months so they keep their compression and support. Juzo also recommends washing after each wear and keeping two pairs, one to wear and one to wash, because the elastic can stretch out. Care instructions differ by brand; follow your garment's care label.
Your legs have changed. Weight gain or loss, or a change in swelling, can change how a stocking fits. One manufacturer (medi) advises returning to your retailer for a new measurement when fit changes.
The style does not suit your leg shape. Made-to-measure garments can have options meant to stop rolling. One manufacturer (Juzo) describes a high-rise back and a slant top. Ask your fitter whether one would suit you.
How to stop compression stockings rolling down
- Put them on first thing in the morning, when swelling is usually lower.
- Keep the top band flat. Never fold, roll or turn it down to hold the stocking up.
- Replace worn pairs. MedlinePlus advises about every 3 to 6 months.
- Get remeasured if they still roll or your legs have changed. The size, length or style may need to change.
Quick checks before you buy new ones
- Is the top band folded, turned down or twisted? That points to how they are put on. Smooth the band so it lies flat.
- Do they feel loose or worn? That points to the size or worn fabric. Ask your fitter whether they need replacing.
- Are they older than about 3 to 6 months? Worn-out fabric is a likely cause.
- Has your weight or swelling changed? Your legs may no longer match the size. Get remeasured.
- Does it happen every time you wear them? Regular slipping points to fit. Have the fit checked.
When to get remeasured
Get remeasured, and ask a fitter to check how you put them on, if:
- they roll or slide down regularly even when put on correctly
- they feel loose, or no longer feel snug and firm
- your weight, swelling or leg shape has changed
- it is time to replace them (Oxford Health NHS advises remeasuring each time replacement pairs are needed)
The same NHS booklet says measurements should be taken as early in the morning as possible, before long periods of standing. A new pair is not always the answer; the size, length or style may need to change. Our in-house fitter can remeasure you.
Fitting at Medically Modern DME
- Our Mount Kisco store: 161 E Main St, Mount Kisco, NY
- Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
- Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed
- Home fitting visits available throughout New York State
- Our in-house fitter can take measurements
What not to do
- Do not fold, roll or turn down the top band to keep stockings up, once they are on.
- Do not wear stockings that cut in, hurt, or leave marks or color changes. Take them off and contact your clinician.
- Do not keep wearing stockings that no longer fit. Have the fit checked. If compression is prescribed, check with your clinician before you stop wearing them altogether. Take a stocking off right away if it causes the warning symptoms above.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, Compression stockings (public-sector health information)
- MedlinePlus, Pulmonary embolus (when to call 911) (public-sector health information)
- CDC, About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots) (public-sector health information)
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS, Compression stockings (NHS)
- Oxford Health NHS, Compression hosiery booklet (NHS)
- Juzo, Compression FAQs (manufacturer)
- medi, If compression stockings are too tight, cut in or slip (manufacturer)
Ask us about your current benefits and your expected out-of-pocket cost. Benefit information is an estimate, not a guarantee of payment.