FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our provital stockings are only available in the consulting pharmacy. If your pharmacist does not have provital stockings in stock, he or she can order these for you in the desired size and colour within a few hours via his or her wholesaler.

Venous weakness means weakened venous valves as a result of permanent stress, which can then no longer close properly.

The veins lie below the heart and transport the blood to the heart against gravity. They have a very special structure for this purpose. Inside, the veins have venous valves, which act similarly to a valve and thus prevent blood from flowing back again. If they no longer close properly, transporting the blood away is impaired and it accumulates in the upstream vein sections. In the course of time, the venous wall gives in to the pressure, which is exerted by the sagging blood, and the vein widens.

Monotonous standing or sitting are the main causes of a venous weakness. Other factors that affect the blood coagulation negatively: low air pressure during air travel, low humidity and insufficient supply of liquid as well as warmth, such as in the warm summer months.

The cause of venous weakness is also frequently a hereditary predisposition. Usually several members of a family are affected by a venous suffering. The risk of venous weakness also increases with age. The first signs are noticed by most affected people at the earliest starting from the age of 30. Women are much more frequently affected by venous problems, presumably due to the special construction of the connective tissue. The female sex hormones provide for a looser connective tissue. That is why pregnancy, during which the oestrogen concentration is particularly high, is also a risk factor for venous weakness. In addition, the steadily growing stomach in pregnant women presses on the veins in the pelvis and additionally stresses the leg veins.

Furthermore, excess weight and also previous blood clots in the veins (thrombosis) increase the risk of venous diseases. Activities that are associated with long-term sitting or standing also promote venous problems, such as venous weakness.

An illness can develop from a venous weakness, which doctors refer to as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This disease is usually associated with severe swelling and skin changes.

If you frequently complain about swollen, tired or even painful legs, especially at the end of the day, then there is a risk of venous weakness. The symptoms of a venous weakness may vary, depending on the degree of severity.
Look for the following warning signs:

• Spider veins: small reddish to bluish spider-web like fine veins, especially on the side or back of the thighs
• Significantly prominent veins, especially on the lower leg, calf or hollow of the knee
• Varicose veins: usually on the lower leg and calf, easily recognised by the protruding, thickened, weaving bluish veins
• Cramps in the calf
• Oedema: Swelling / water accumulation near the ankles or lower limbs
• Skin changes: brownish pigmentation in the ankle area; dry, scaly, itchy skin areas (eczema) or open skin spots

There are some measures that prevent venous problems from worsening:

• Move as often as you can, do sports several times during the week, such as cycling, swimming or walking. Take the stairs instead of the lift or the escalator.
• If you spend longer periods of time sitting or standing, strengthen your legs by doing foot gymnastics. Alternately move the tips of your toes in the direction of the shin and floor. Seesaw from your heels to the tips of your toes and back again several times and make circles with your feet. (Other preventative gymnastics exercises can be found here on our website)
• Wear provital stockings so that the blood circulation in the leg veins is stimulated, thus preventing possible discomfort.
• Try to avoid being overweight by eating healthy foods, i.e. plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as little sweet and fatty foods. Excess weight favours and worsens venous weakness.

“Gradual compression” means that the gentle pressure exerted on the leg by the provital stocking gradually decreases. The pressure or the compression is the strongest at the ankle joint. The unit of compression is specified in mmHg (millimetres of mercury column). The higher the mmHg value, the stronger the compression. The gradual pressure profile is specified on all packaging of provital support knee high. Your pharmacist will be happy to help you.

“DEN” refers to the thickness of a polyamide thread, i.e. the transparency or opaqueness of the stocking. That is why you will not find the “DEN” specification for cotton stockings.

provital offers you support knee high in various support strengths and colours:

• Travel support knee high – strong support – specifically for longer journeys
• Support knee high – light and medium support  – for everyday life
• Comfort socks – for sensitive feet

All products are available in different sizes and colours. Travel support knee high and comfort socks are available for women and men.

Travel support knee high are specifically designed for use on long journeys, but can also be used on a daily basis if necessary.

Support knee high are available in two support thicknesses: light and medium supporting strength. Both versions may be worn every day. What support strength you need depends on your stress or your personal sensitivity.

The outwardly-acting, precisely defined, mechanical pressure profile working from the ankle upwards in a decreasing manner naturally causes a reduction of the venous diameter.

The venous valves can close better, which means a better blood circulation. During movement, the support knee high also has a resistance for the muscles, which can therefore work more effectively.

The legs also benefit from this in several ways:

• Tired and heavy legs are prevented
• The swelling of legs is reduced
• The legs are energised and pleasantly relieved

Support knee high from provital look the same as normal stockings. The difference lies in how they are produced and therefore how they work.

The stockings are made in such a way that they generate pressure from the outside on the tissue of the enclosed leg. The pressure decreases from the bottom up. The pressure can be divided into compression force classes:

• Strong: 14–16 mmHg (Travel support knee high)
• Medium: 10–14 mmHg (Support knee high 40 Denier)
• Light: 6–9 mmHg (Support knee high 70 Denier)

The pressure exerted by a medical compression stocking is significantly higher than by support knee high: > 18 – 20 mmHg.

provital provital support knee high are available in 40 “DEN” and 70 “DEN”.

provital travel support knee high and comfort socks are cotton stockings and therefore do not have a “DEN” specification.

provital support knee high are products for all adults who do not yet have any noticeable problems with their legs and whose legs are exposed to particularly high stress in the following situations:

Support knee high

• On long journeys (by car, train, aeroplane, etc.)
• In the case of a “standing” profession (salesperson, pharmacist, hairdresser, teacher, etc.)
• In the case of a “sitting” profession (office employee, taxi driver, bus driver, etc.)
• When exercising (running, jogging, walking, etc.)

Comfort socks

• People with particularly sensitive skin, especially diabetics

Yes, provital stockings serve as prophylaxis. They prevent venous diseases and can be worn daily.

provital Produkte zeichnen sich durch hohen Tragekomfort aus. Außerdem sind sie garantiert schadstofffrei – geprüft auf Schadstoffe nach OEKO-TEX^® Standard 100.

All provital products can be washed in the washing machine at 30°C.

Special care instructions for support knee high

Use fine detergents for synthetic fibres and then thoroughly rinse the support knee high with clear water. Please do not use any fabric softeners and do not wring the support knee high.
For drying, ideally place the support knee high between absorbent cloths.

Yes. The use of lotions or creams does not impair the performance of provital products nor does it damage them.

Diabetics in particular have sensitive skin. They react to the smallest touches and often complain of pressure points on their feet from sock collars that are too tight and annoying seams.

provital comfort socks offer the purest wearing comfort, because they are virtually not felt on your feet and on your calves.

They do not have any annoying inner seams that could chafe. They have a soft tip with a flat seam. The heel is reinforced and the sock fits perfectly. The high cotton content lets your foot breathe.

The pressure-free comfort collar without incisive rubber ensures an extremely pleasant wearing comfort. The elastane ensures that the stocking does not slide even without elastic.

No. Since provital support knee high are not medical compression stockings, our products are available at the pharmacy without a prescription.

Support knee high only work if they are used correctly. Ensure the proper fitting technique so that your support knee high fit correctly, look elegant and have a long useful life:

1. Pull the support knee high as far over your hand until you are holding the heel with your fingers.
2. Hold the support knee high firmly at the heel on the inside. Then turn it to the foot part on its left side.
3. Pull the foot part from the tip of your foot to the heel and adjust it well to the foot.
4. Place your foot firmly on the ground and pull the support knee high gradually and evenly over the ankle and calf upward. Stretch it as far as necessary without over-stretching it. Gently massage out the wrinkles.

Ideally put on your support knee high directly after getting up. That is when your legs are rested and any swelling has subsided.

If you frequently complain about tired or even painful legs, especially at the end of the day, then there is a risk of venous weakness. The symptoms of a venous weakness may vary, depending on the degree of severity.