Which term describes a garment worn on the legs to promote blood flow and reduce swelling?

• A. Elastic Stockings
• B. Elimination
• C. Documentation
• D. Elderly

Answer: (A)

Compression stockings, also called elastic stockings, are worn on the legs to improve blood flow back to the heart and reduce swelling. They use gradient compression—tighter at the ankle and gradually looser up the leg—which helps push blood upward and prevents pooling in the lower legs. This supports circulation, lowers edema, and helps reduce the risk of blood clots, especially for people with limited mobility or after surgery. In practice, they should be properly sized and applied by a caregiver or nurse, removed regularly to check the skin, and not rolled or bunched, with attention to any signs of impaired circulation like numbness, coldness, or pale skin—report these promptly. The other terms don’t describe a garment worn on the legs: elimination is about waste removal, documentation is charting, and elderly is an age descriptor.