What are some calf compression sleeve benefits?
Compression garments are articles of clothing that fit tightly around the skin. Usually elasticized, compression garments come in different forms; shorts, gloves, support bras and vests, arm sleeves, calf sleeves, socks, and so many more.
They are specifically designed to apply pressure to the skin and increase circulatory efficiency in veins and arteries.
Calf compression sleeves are increasingly becoming popular in the fashion, fitness and the medical arena.
For fitness and medical reasons, they are worn around the calves to provide pressure and support to the area. Most of them are usually graduated such that the least pressure is felt on the upper part while the highest pressure is felt towards the lower end.
This article will provide you with various calf compression sleeve benefits that will help you make a sound decision if you are looking to purchase compression garments.
WHEN SHOULD YOU WEAR COMPRESSION CALF SLEEVES?
Wearing calf compression sleeves is most beneficial when you are running, exercising or travelling by air during which you are likely to experience pressure changes associated with air travel.
These are the times your calf muscles can be subjected to strain, overuse or temporary damage. Calf compression sleeves can also be worn post-exercise to help with the muscle recovery process.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU WEAR COMPRESSION SLEEVES?
How long you should wear your compression sleeves is really a matter of choice. Some people wear them for 24 hours a day, some only for a few hours, some only when they are travelling and some only when exercising.
Most people don them during the day and remove them at night. It is important to note that compression sleeves are usually designed to create pressure gradient, enabling them to fight gravity to circulate blood and lymph around the muscles.
Hence, they are more required when you are active and moving around than when you are lying in bed at night.
However, if you are wearing compression sleeves for medical reasons, it is best to seek advice from your doctor regarding when you should have them on.
Calf compression sleeve benefits are varied. You stand to gain many benefits by using them, ranging from medical to fitness benefits, as will be discussed below.
CALF COMPRESSION SLEEVE BENEFITS
Here are 10 calf compression sleeve benefits
1. PROVIDE PAIN RELIEF FOR SHIN SPLINTS
Medically known as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), shin splints refer to pain along the shinbone caused by muscle or tendon overuse.
They are common in people with intense fitness routines such as athletes. Compression sleeves can relieve shin splints by reducing swelling and inflammation on the lower leg.
2. HELP IN MANAGEMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA
Lymphedema refers to the buildup of fluid resulting from surgery or various medical conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF).
Recent studies show that wearing compression sleeves regularly may not only help in help in controlling lymphedema symptoms but also in preventing it from developing in the first place.
3. PREVENT VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins occur when blood vessels on the leg due to being overfilled with blood. This condition can be caused by various risk factors among them being prolonged sitting or standing.
Sitting or standing for long periods of time makes it hard for blood to travel up the leg veins while fighting against gravity, which increases blood pressure in the veins.
This can cause blood to pool around the calves, ankles and feet.
Wearing calf compression sleeves can help keep the vein valves in the correct position to prevent increased blood pressure which can cause varicose veins.
4. CAN BE USED TO MANAGE SWOLLEN LEGS DURING PREGNANCY
One of the common side effects of pregnancy is swollen legs caused by fluid buildup around the calves.
Calf compression sleeves prevent swelling around the calf muscles by improving blood circulation and enabling fluid movement in the area.
5. PREVENT DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS
Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, is a medical condition caused by blood clots’ formation in the deep veins of the legs.
It is a potentially fatal condition since such clots can travel to the lungs and block blood flow which can cause death.
One way deep vein thrombosis can be treated is by using compression wear such as calf compression sleeves that would improve blood circulation around your calves and prevent the blood from clotting.
6. PREVENT EXTERNAL INJURIES DURING EXERCISE
If you are a fitness fanatic whose life revolves around working out, then you probably know that you are susceptible to external injuries such as abrasions and scratches.
Wearing calf compression sleeves can be a good preventive measure if you are looking to avoid sustaining external injuries during work out.
7. DECREASE MUSCLE FATIGUE
Calf compression sleeves are trendy among athletes. They decrease muscle fatigue in the calves by supporting muscles.
They do this by reducing the amount of muscular vibration and oscillation created due to working out, which can cause muscles to tire.
8. HELPS IN TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Since calf compression sleeves maintain blood flow, your calves’ temperature is likely to remain at a comfortable level regardless of whether you are indoors in a warm environment or outdoors in a cooler environment.
9. PROMOTES FASTER RECOVERY AFTER STRENUOUS EXERCISES
A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy suggests that muscles that are constantly under stress during exercise release creatine kinase, a precursor of muscle damage.
Compression sleeves inhibit the production of creatine kinase hence preventing muscle damage post-workout, which promotes faster recovery.
They also help the body get rid of lactic acid and cortisol produced during workout, promoting speedy muscle recovery.
10. DELAY ONSET OF MUSCLE SORENESS
One of the many calf compression sleeve benefits is that they can help delay the onset of your calf muscles’ soreness after you exercise.
If you are an athlete who takes part in successive high-impact exercises, calf compression sleeves can help delay the soreness of your calf muscles, which can enable you to take part of continuous exercises of such nature without your muscles feeling sore.
This is because they help eliminate lactic acid from the blood post-exercise.
CONCLUSION
The calf muscles are like the ‘heart’ of the lower leg. They play a vital role in transporting de-oxygenated blood out of the lower part of the leg all the way back to the heart.
This is enough reason to take good care of your calf muscles, especially if they are predisposed to damage due to medical conditions or regular exercising.
Despite the many calf compression sleeve benefits, research suggests no conclusive evidence pointing to an improvement of athletic performance as one of the benefits of wearing them.
The benefits with which calf compression sleeves can be associated revolve around stabilizing and supporting muscles but not enhancing muscle performance.
Now that you are well equipped with a good number of calf compression sleeve benefits, we trust that you will be able to use this knowledge to guide you in purchasing and using compression garments whether for medical or fitness reasons.
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