What Is The Point In Compression Socks? | Calf Guards & Recovery Tights Explained

Compression socks, calf guards, recovery tights, what you call them doesn’t matter but more importantly, why would you wear them? Compression garments split opinion, you see top-level athletes racing, traveling, and or recovering in them but is there any evidence behind their benefits?
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[@hidden6pack998]

I wear compression calf sleeves on most of my long runs and particularly when I do hard trail runs with a lot of vertical gain. I started to wear them after I ramped up my milage and started to have a number of calf and achilles injuries. The calf sleeves really do seem to work for me in helping to prevent those injuries. I also often wear a pair of calf sleeves for several hours after my longest runs to help prevent soreness and fatigue. The sleeves in conjunction with a consistent regimen on stretching and foam rolling have made a world of difference and have allowed me to significantly increase my milage.

[@hidden6pack998]

One additional thought regarding wether or not compression tights/ sleeve work. If you watch NBA here in US, you will notice a ton of players that are wearing them. These players have hundred million dollar contracts and their teams hire the best sports medicine physicians and physiologist in the world to protect their investments. With the number of players that wear all sorts of compression sleeve and tights, there has to be a legitimate reason.

[@Runderestimated]

I wear compression socks for every run! Can't recommend them enough they totally changed my training. Great for moisture wicking too!

[@patrickainsworth9918]

Recently started wearing compression socks on run work outs and long runs, absolutely love them. They have stopped me getting inflammation in the tendons in my calves that run alongside my shin bone, reducing the discomfort at the end of the run. The issues I was having have all but gone.

[@MAMAGGray]

They are hard to get on and expensive for socks, it helps me with swelling and varicose veins, I wear them in 115 degree weather in TX, and i only wear black knee high. I will swear by them!! Beware of your cats, cat claws can put runs in the hose. Still good just funky, not cat proof!

[@philipholenstein5685]

Compression socks work no doubt. I work at a stand up desk and I’m a lot less fatigued with them on than without.

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

I don't consider myself a long distance runner. I'll typically do 4+ to 10 miles, usually when it's the weekend and I have more time. I have very sensitive baby feet and I find compression socks to be essential for making my feet recover the next day. I'll typically wear them during my run and if I can tell my feet are going to be super sensitive, I'll even wear them for a few hours after the run and yes, I've worn them overnight before.

[@JamesMartin-gl8gg]

I like to wear compression socks for both running and cycling. I do suffer from varicose veins which after I have finished are not so pronounced.

[@edwardbliss8931]

Compression socks actually made my varicose vein pain worse, and I was actually measured and fitted.

[@bhatch]

You mention studies showing benefits, can you link to those studies in the video description or call out specific papers or authors?

[@linettelow]

Thank you for sharing this 💚 I’m trail running and appreciate longer socks for the support & protection. I had no idea they help you post-workout and will incorporate them into recovery.

[@brutosaraccini6591]

Very good! Well explained and instructive, thanks

[@Kelly_Ben]

Thanks for this!! I've been wearing calf sleeves since getting a calf strain a few months ago. I wasn't sure what the science said, I just knew they made my runs after 2 weeks off feel a little more comfortable. I haven't run without them since!

[@incognito8023]

Great video, beautiful landscape! And beautiful heather :) I have a lot of calf injury in my trainings... I found that compression is great for short and intense runs. Long runs I feel that I'm not getting the full muscle power and that makes the other muscles work harder. Usually, workouts more than 1h I start feeling the glutes/back more with the compression. Weird stuff!

[@glenmitchell9980]

I’ve used compression socks since I started getting calf strains about 6 years ago. Last time I didn’t use them was an aquathlon in UK in March. Calf went ping halfway through the run and took 10 weeks to recover. Luckily all good now and ready for Outlaw X tomorrow 😀

[@Kaëlanii]

great video and very accurate in its information

[@ayahoo16]

I work at Walmart and I stand on my feet for 9 or more hours a day. I have never run a marathon and I definitely never will, but I am very grateful to have discovered impression sex they are a lifesaver. I literally couldn't stand after a shift because my feet would swell and I would sit for hours after work and be faced with such pain just doing what needed to be done before going to bed. I still experience pain but it is nothing compared to what I used to experience! I can't express enough how glad I am to have discovered this! I used to wrap my ankles in Ace bandages but that is more difficult and they wear out over time. Socks are so much better!!!

[@markovucicevic2917]

Compression socks are great, I wear a tighter pair of comr. socks when running, and I have another pair, looser fit, I wear those sometimes while I work in my office. Cmrpsn socks are great, they protect me from injuries when running, and after the run, legs are not swollen, which is great.

[@annakatie4521]

mine have been great (in combination with strapping and a brace) to reduce swelling and help me incr. training load after a bad ankle injury!!

[@wayne3078]

I used to have huge issues with my calves tearing and cramping badly. I have quiet big calves but I’ve found wearing the 2XU calf sleeve has massively helped me.