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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
TED hose are anti-embolism stockings: close-fitting, graduated-compression stockings worn by patients who are in bed or recovering from surgery to help deter blood clots in the legs. The name stands for Thrombo-Embolic Deterrent. Getting the size right depends on a handful of tape-measure readings, and the single most important one is upper-thigh circumference, because it decides between thigh length and knee length. Who uses them: nurses and other clinical staff who measure and fit them, supply buyers who stock them, and students learning the product class.
What TED hose are
TED hose, also written T.E.D. hose or anti-embolism stockings (AES), come in knee, thigh or waist-length styles. A health-system explainer describes them as pushing blood up the leg toward the heart, with pressure it describes as stronger than a standard compression sock, and as usually recommended after surgery or for people confined to bed. The same source says they are generally used short term, often around three weeks, with the schedule set by the patient’s doctor (Baylor Scott and White Health, 2021).
They are a hospital product class, not a lifestyle sock. For how they differ from ambulatory compression stockings, including pressure grades and when each is chosen, see DVT prophylaxis compression stockings: grading and selection and what a compression sock is. This page does not repeat that comparison.
How TED hose are built
Features described in one manufacturer’s fitting guide include a heel pocket, an inspection toe hole (also called an inspection window) that should sit under the toes so the toes can be checked, and a gusset that is positioned over the femoral artery when the stocking is rotated into place. Thigh-length styles have a top band; a belt variant is also offered. Where a thigh-length stocking is used, the manufacturer’s guide notes that the studies proving clinical effectiveness of T.E.D. stockings used thigh-length styles, and says to select thigh length wherever possible unless knee length is more appropriate to the patient’s condition.
Types of TED hose
| Type | Typical use (manufacturer guidance) | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Thigh length (including thigh length with belt) | First choice where upper-thigh circumference is under 91.4 cm | Studies of clinical effectiveness used thigh-length styles; measured from buttock fold to heel |
| Knee length | Used where upper-thigh circumference is 91.4 cm or more, or where knee length is more appropriate to the patient’s condition | Top sits 3-5 cm below the knee; measured from behind the knee to the heel |
Source: Cardinal Health T.E.D. fitting guide (2019). A UK hospital-group procedure guideline adds that thigh-length stockings can be difficult to put on and can roll down, creating a tourniquet-like band just above the knee, and states that 15-20% of patients cannot effectively wear thigh-length styles.
How to measure for TED hose
Measure the legs, not the patient’s old size. The manufacturer’s guide and the hospital procedure guideline agree on the points below.
- Timing and position: ideally first thing in the morning, with the patient standing and feet flat on the floor.
- Technique: tape measure snug but not tight, against bare skin. Measure each leg separately.
- Thigh length: upper-thigh circumference at the widest point, calf circumference at its greatest point, and the distance from the buttock (gluteal) fold to the bottom of the heel.
- Knee length: calf circumference at its greatest point, and the distance from behind the knee (the procedure guideline says about 1 inch below the knee line) to the heel.
- Choosing the style: if upper-thigh circumference is under 91.4 cm, choose thigh length; at 91.4 cm or more, choose knee length.
- If the legs differ: the procedure guideline says to order two sizes.
- Re-measuring: after major or lower-limb surgery or anything that changes swelling, and at most 7 days apart; also on the day of discharge if the stockings go home.
Example sizing bands from one manufacturer’s chart (thigh-length style). Other makers use different charts, so always use the chart supplied with the product.
| Measurement | Band | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Calf circumference | Under 30.5 cm | Small |
| Calf circumference | 30.5-38 cm | Medium |
| Calf circumference | 38-44.5 cm | Large |
| Leg length (buttock fold to heel) | Under 74 cm | Short |
| Leg length (buttock fold to heel) | 74-84 cm | Regular |
| Leg length (buttock fold to heel) | Over 84 cm | Long |
Source: Cardinal Health T.E.D. fitting guide (2019). Larger calf and thigh bands up to 66 cm exist in the full chart. The procedure guideline’s reason for careful sizing: incorrect sizing causes swelling and bruising at the ankles and can constrict blood supply.
How to put on TED hose
This is the general method in the manufacturer’s guide and the hospital procedure guideline; always follow the instructions supplied with the product.
- Put a hand inside the stocking down to the heel pocket, grab the heel and pull the stocking inside out to the heel.
- Slide it over the foot with the heel centred in the heel pocket, and align the inspection toe hole to fall under the toes.
- Pull the stocking up over the ankle and calf a few inches at a time, then on up the leg, rotating it inward so the gusset sits over the femoral artery (thigh-length styles).
- Check the position: the thigh-length top band sits in the gluteal furrow; the stitch change sits 3-5 cm below the knee; a knee-length top sits 3-5 cm below the knee.
- Smooth out wrinkles and folds. The toes should not stick out past the inspection window.
Benefits of TED hose
The documented purpose is clot deterrence. Health-system guidance describes TED hose as helping prevent blood clots by moving blood up the leg toward the heart, usually for people after surgery or confined to bed, and sometimes for people with a history of clots or poor circulation. For how strong the evidence is and where ambulatory stockings fit, see the DVT prophylaxis guide. Whether TED hose suit a particular person is a decision for that person’s clinician. Risk tools used to frame that decision include the Caprini score and Wells criteria.
Safe use and handling basics
- Manufacturer’s contraindications: massive leg oedema or pulmonary oedema from congestive heart failure, severe arteriosclerosis or other ischaemic vascular disease, and extreme leg deformity. Local conditions listed include dermatitis, immediate postoperative vein ligation, gangrene and recent skin graft.
- Laundering: the manufacturer’s guide says stockings should be laundered every 2 to 3 days unless soiled. The procedure guideline suggests two pairs per patient so protection continues while one pair is washed.
- Aftercare in the procedure guideline: record the measurements and size; patients should report pain, numbness or skin problems; wash and dry the legs daily; encourage early mobilisation and hydration; avoid crossing the legs or ankles.
- The manufacturer labels the product for healthcare professionals; refer to the instructions for use supplied with the device.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by shoe or clothing size instead of tape-measure readings.
- Measuring after the legs have swollen during the day rather than first thing, or measuring one leg only.
- Pulling the stocking on without turning it to the heel first, leaving the heel off-centre or the toes beyond the inspection window.
- Letting a thigh-length top band roll down above the knee, which the procedure guideline warns can create a tourniquet effect.
- Not re-measuring after surgery or a change in swelling.
FAQ
How do you measure for TED hose?
Measure each leg with a snug tape, ideally first thing in the morning with the patient standing. For thigh length take upper-thigh and calf circumference plus buttock-fold-to-heel length; for knee length take calf circumference plus behind-knee-to-heel length. Under 91.4 cm at the upper thigh points to thigh length; 91.4 cm or more points to knee length.
How do you put on TED hose?
Turn the stocking inside out to the heel, slide it on with the heel centred and the inspection toe hole under the toes, then draw it up the leg a few inches at a time. Smooth out wrinkles and check that the top sits where the manufacturer specifies.
What are the benefits of TED hose?
They are used to help deter blood clots in the legs, typically in people recovering from surgery or confined to bed, by moving blood back toward the heart. Duration and suitability are set by the person’s clinician.
Sources
- Cardinal Health, T.E.D. Anti-Embolism Stockings: How to Measure / Fitting Guide / Selection Guide (2019), checked 29 October 2026: fitting and measurement guide (PDF).
- A UK hospital-group procedure guideline, Step-by-step guide to measuring and applying antiembolism stockings (2020), hosted on the NHS Learning Hub, checked 29 October 2026: procedure guideline (PDF).
- Baylor Scott and White Health, How TED hose help prevent blood clots (22 December 2021), checked 29 October 2026.
Related products: compression socks. See also what an elastic bandage is.
