Graduated compression explained: how 23-32 mmHg works

What is graduated compression?

Graduated compression means that the sock is made with controlled pressure that gradually decreases from the foot to the calf. Justin, physiotherapist and co-founder of KINEX, explains it this way: “The socks help support blood circulation, back to the heart, from bottom to top. If you think about it, it also makes sense to support blood circulation so low in your body.”

The reason for this profile: when you stand, the blood pressure in your veins is highest at the bottom of your leg, around the ankle and foot. Blood and fluid accumulate most easily there. By applying the most external pressure there, you help counteract that. As Justin summarizes it: “It ensures that your blood can be drained more effectively from your legs.” Do you want to know the basics first? Then read what compression socks actually do.

Why the ankle gets the most pressure

There is also physics behind it. According to Laplace's law, with the same material tension, more pressure is created around a thinner body part than around a thicker part. Your ankle is narrower than your calf, so the sock naturally builds up more pressure there. The pressure gradient therefore arises partly from the design and partly from the shape of your leg.

To be fair: although this classic graduated profile is logical and widely used, it has not been proven that it always works better for healthy athletes than uniform pressure. Research by Miyamoto and Kawakami showed that uniform pressure and calf-focused pressure can also reduce muscle fatigue. The graduated profile is a good, proven standard, not a magic formula.

What does mmHg mean?

mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury, the same unit your doctor uses to measure your blood pressure. For compression socks, it describes the pressure between the sock and your leg.

But a number alone says little. A value like 23-32 mmHg is only meaningful if you also know where it was measured, at what leg circumference, in what position and with what device. That is precisely why the measurement method matters.

Do you feel the difference between 15 and 23 mmHg?

Maarten notices it mainly in how the sock feels: “The pressure is firm enough to actually feel. In addition, it could provide more stability, but that varies from person to person.”

Why 23-32 mmHg?

This range comes from the German medical standard RAL-GZ 387, where it is called class 2. It is a recognized, reproducible pressure level that is also used in medical compression therapy.

Here KINEX is honest: 23-32 mmHg has not been scientifically established as the optimal pressure level for sports. There is no research showing that precisely this range makes athletes perform better than lower pressure. Some studies even point to an optimum around moderate pressure.

So why does KINEX still choose class 2? For three reasons. Firstly, controllability: it is a measurable, reproducible level that we can consistently produce and monitor. Secondly, a noticeable supportive feeling: the pressure is firm enough to actually feel. And thirdly, stability: KINEX wants to offer more stability in the lower leg with the firmer compression. And more stability theoretically means even less muscle vibration, and precisely that vibration reduction has been scientifically proven. The choice is therefore not about the claim that more pressure is automatically better, but about control, feeling and stability. You can read the full difference between the classes in class 1 versus class 2.

What graduated means when you put on the sock

Specifically, you feel this: the sock is tightest around your ankle and a little looser upwards. That's how it should be. It's not a production error, it's the pressure profile doing its job.

Maarten emphasizes one thing: “Graduated means that the compression gradually decreases from the foot towards the calf. So if you are putting on compression socks for the first time, choosing the right size is essential.” A good compression sock should feel firm, but never constricting or painful.

The conclusion

Graduated compression is a well-thought-out principle with a strong physiological basis. The 23-32 mmHg range is a recognized medical class that KINEX consciously chooses to provide quality, a noticeably supportive feeling, and stability. What makes it strong is not the promise of a magic number, but that the pressure is actually measured and controlled.

Measured compression. No empty numbers.

Sources

O'Riordan et al. (2023), Sports Medicine · Miyamoto & Kawakami (2015), International Journal of Sports Medicine · Mizuno et al. (2017), PLOS ONE · Wang et al. (2025), Journal of Sport and Health Science · Weakley et al. (2022), Sports Medicine · RAL-GZ 387 · McManus et al. (2020), Measurement