Compression has been shown to alleviate symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. However, the physiological mechanisms of how compression works on the vasculature is not fully understood. It is held that vascular wall shear stress (WSS) plays a role in CVI prevention through compression.
The article "Effects of elastic compression stockings on wall shear stress in deep and superficial veins of the calf" by S.P. Downie et al reviews priciples related to vascular WSS, compression and its role in CVI prevention.
http://ajpheart.physiology.org/content/ajpheart/294/5/H2112.full.pdf
As fluid flows through a tube, stresses develop. Shear stress components have the greatest impact on the fluid/tube interface. Similarly, wall shear stress (WSS) due to blood flow has the greatest effect on the outer endothelial layers of the lumen. An excellent reference describing WSS and blood flow through the vasculature is the article by T.G. Papaioannou et al, "Vascular Wall Shear Stress: Basic Principles and Methods".
http://www.hellenicjcardiol.org/archive/full_text/2005/1/2005_1_9.pdf
