Our support tights are available with the following compression strengths:
8-10 mmHg ( = specific value for our 'Comfort4Men 20 + 40 DEN' compression pantyhose )
12-15 mmHg ( = specific value for our 'Comfort4Men 70 DEN' compression pantyhose )
18-20 mmHg ( = specific value for our 'Comfort4Men 140 DEN' compression pantyhose )
Neither the support nor the compression is directly interlinked with the 'DEN' value!
There is a difference between support tights and compression tights.
Support tights have a preventative effect if they are worn soon enough. They exert an even pressure on the legs and in this way support the tissue.
The support or compression strength is measured in mmHg. This is the short form for the unit of measurement in millimetres of mercury (Hg is the chemical symbol for mercury) within the metric system, which in medical diagnostics expresses physical pressure. This unit is used amongst other things for measuring blood pressure. 1 mm Hg = the pressure exerted by one millimetre of mercury.
The support strength is divided into three support classes:
Class 1 = light (6-8 mmHg)
Class 2 = medium (10-12 mmHg)
Class 3 = strong (14-16 mmHg)
These support classes are unfortunately not standardized, which means that the actual support strength can vary with different models. Support tights are not yet available on prescription.
The support classes should not be confused with the medical compression classes used for compression tights. It is important that the course of pressure decreases from bottom to top: high support pressure around the heel area, decreasing from here in the direction of the thigh. If tights do not have this course of pressure, they have a counterproductive effect.
There are four compression classes
Compression class 1 = light (18-21 mmHg)
Compression class 2 = medium (23-32 mmHg)
Compression class 3 = strong (34-46 mmHg)
Compression class 4 = very strong (more than 49 mmHg)