If your workday involves sitting at a desk for long hours, you’ve probably felt that familiar heaviness, puffiness, or swelling in your lower legs by evening. Leg swelling, also called lower-limb edema, is a common complaint among people in sedentary jobs. But the good news is: with the right preventive strategies—especially daily compression stockings with a pressure of 18-21 mmHg—you can greatly reduce swelling, improve circulation, and keep leg health on track.
Why Do Legs Swell During Desk Jobs?
When you sit continuously, blood and fluid tend to pool in your lower extremities:
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Venous stasis: The calf muscle pump (that helps push blood up toward the heart) is less active when you aren’t walking or moving.
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Hydrostatic pressure: Sitting increases pressure in the veins below the heart, promoting fluid leakage into surrounding tissues.
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Reduced lymphatic drainage: Lymph fluid doesn’t move well without regular muscle contractions.
Over time, this swelling can lead to discomfort, fatigue, aching, and in more severe cases, can worsen venous insufficiency.
What Is 18-21 mmHg Compression, and Why It Matters
Compression stockings are graded by how much pressure (in millimetres of mercury, mmHg) they exert at the ankle, usually graduating upward. 18–21 mmHg falls in what is often described as Class I compression (in some classification systems). It is mild-to-moderate pressure—strong enough to help prevent edema (swelling) but still comfortable for daily wear.
“Sorgen Daily Compression 18-21 mmHg” refers to a product offering that specific pressure; wearing such stockings consistently (during active parts of your day) can help maintain leg wellness and reduce swelling from sedentary work.
What the Research Shows: Two Key Studies
Here are two actual scientific studies that support the use of daily compression in the 18-21 mmHg range (or close) for preventing occupational leg swelling.
Study : Kindermann et al. – Class I (18-21 mmHg) vs Low-Support Stockings
A randomized clinical study at Greifswald University Hospital by Sophie Kindermann compared medical compression stockings class I (18-21 mmHg) with a lower-pressure knee-high stocking (8-10 mmHg) in people with mostly sedentary or standing jobs. bauerfeind-life.com
Findings:
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When wearing the 18-21 mmHg stockings (two types: VenoTrain soft and VenoTrain soft S), participants had a significant reduction in lower leg volume after their wearing period: about 7.6% for VenoTrain soft, 5.7% for the soft S variety. The lower pressure (8-10 mmHg) stockings yielded only about 1.5% reduction. bauerfeind-life.com
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Discomfort, swelling, feelings of tension in feet and lower legs were noticeably alleviated with the 18-21 mmHg stockings. Some participants reported being completely free from symptoms. bauerfeind-life.com
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Also important: the comfort and compliance were good; the class I stockings stayed in place, didn’t crease, slip, etc. bauerfeind-life.com
Interpretation: For desk job workers (or those who stand much of the day), an 18-21 mmHg compression stocking is significantly more effective against leg swelling and discomfort than very low compression socks.
How to Use Sorgen Daily Compression in Your Routine
To get maximum benefit from Sorgen Daily Compression, here are practical tips:
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Wear them during active work hours – especially when you’re sitting or standing still for long stretches (e.g. desk work, meetings).
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Put them on first thing in the morning – before your legs swell (ankle compression works better when swelling is low).
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Ensure proper fit – calf circumference, ankle width, leg length, etc. If they’re too tight at top or roll down, you lose effectiveness.
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Take breaks to move – even with compression, frequent micro breaks to stand, walk, or flex your calves help.
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Gradual increase – If new to compression, wearing for a few hours at a time initially may help build comfort.
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Maintenance and care – Wash carefully, avoid overstretching, replace when elasticity degrades.
Benefits You’ll Notice
Using Sorgen Daily Compression regularly can lead to:
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Reduced leg swelling by evening
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Less heaviness and fatigue in calves and feet
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Improved circulation and perhaps reduced risk of more serious venous issues
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Better comfort, perhaps improved productivity (leg discomfort is distracting!)
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Possibly improved sleep or less discomfort after long travel days
Conclusion
If you’re spending long hours sitting at your desk or standing in one place, don’t wait until evening aches and swelling become routine. Sorgen Daily Compression stockings represent a scientifically supported, comfortable, and practical way to prevent leg swelling, reduce discomfort, and maintain leg wellness. Supported by studies demonstrating substantial reduction in leg volume and symptoms with this compression level, integrating them into your workday routine can make a real difference.
Study 1 - A study about the reduction of “occupational edema” as a result of compression.
The above information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice. We always recommend consulting your doctor for personalized guidance.
