6 Reasons Why You Should Suck It in with Compression Sleeves
Do you struggle with poor circulation? Do you have a hard time recovering after a tough workout? Do your legs ache after you sit too long at your desk?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider wearing compression sleeves more often.
Never heard of compression sleeves? Thought they were only meant for people recovering surgery to help them avoid blood clots? Think again.
There are lots of reasons to use compression sleeves. Read on to learn more about their many health and fitness benefits.
What are Compression Sleeves?
Compression sleeves can be worn on the arms or legs.
They’re made of special material and, as their name suggests, they place pressure on the limbs to compress them and provide a variety of health, fitness, and recovery benefits.
These sleeves use a specialized weave made of strong elastic. This creates “graduated” pressure on the limbs. As a result of the design, these sleeves place more pressure on the ankle or wrist and less pressure further up the arm or leg.
This design encourages a more natural return of blood from the limbs to the heart.
Top Six Benefits of Compression Sleeves
There are lots of reasons to wear compression sleeves, including the following:
1. Promote Proper Blood Circulation
One of the greatest benefits of a compression sleeve is its ability to improve blood circulation.
The pressure they place on the limbs helps to send blood back to the heart at a more efficient rate.
This can be great for both active individuals and those who spend a lot of time sitting during the day. Excess sitting can interfere with blood circulation and cause blood clots and varicose veins.
2. Regulate Body Temperature
For people who are running or playing sports outside, these sleeves help to regulate their body temperature. They’re a great tool to have on hand whether the weather is hot or cold.
When you’re able to regulate your body temperature more effectively, you can also enjoy better performance and less fatigue.
People who spend a lot of time on their feet (such as nurses) can also benefit from the reduced muscle fatigue they get when they wear these sleeves regularly.
3. Improved Sports Performance
Temperature regulation isn’t the only way in which these sleeves help to improve sports performance.
These sleeves improve and regulate blood flow and circulation to the limbs. This, in turn, helps improve an athlete’s oxygen and energy levels.
When more oxygen and nutrients get delivered to the muscles, athletes often find that their endurance increases.
This is why these sleeves are especially popular among endurance athletes like runners, swimmers, and cyclists.
4. Recover from Injuries Faster
Many athletes use sleeves to help improve blood flow to an injured area. This, in turn, helps to minimize swelling and inflammation.
These sleeves also allow more oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to the affected area. And, waste products are carried away in a more efficient manner.
5. Prevent Injuries
In addition to helping to heal injuries, sleeves can also help minimize injury risk.
There are a couple of different ways in which these sleeves do this.
First, they function in a similar way to braces or bandages. They support the joints and muscles and minimize the stress and impact placed upon them.
They also help reduce one’s risk of overextending a joint or moving it in an unnatural way.
Sleeves that are worn on the legs are also great for reducing runners’ risk of developing shin splints because they improve blood flow to the muscles in the front of the leg.
6. Protect the Skin While Outdoors
Sleeves also help to protect the skin when you’re running, walking, or participating in other outdoor activities.
These sleeves shield the limbs from the sun’s harmful rays, and they keep the skin from getting nicked or scratched when you’re spending time out in nature.
Additional Benefits of Compression Sleeves
Most of the benefits of these sleeves have to do with sports performance and injury prevention and recovery. But, sleeves are also a great conservative tool that helps to treat a variety of chronic health conditions.
Some conditions that sleeves are often used to treat include:
- Varicose veins
- Lymphedema
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
- Post-Thrombotic Syndrome (PTS)
Sleeves also reduce the risk of developing blood clots in the legs.
How to Choose the Right Sleeves
Clearly, there are lots of reasons to consider wearing compression sleeves on a consistent basis.
But, how do you choose the right sleeves for your needs? Here are some factors to keep in mind when shopping for a pair:
Choose the Right Degree of Compression
Sleeves provide varying degrees of compression, and it’s important to make sure you choose the right degree for your needs.
For most people, 15-20 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is a good level of compression to experience benefits without too much constriction.
Choose the Right Size
Sleeves come in a range of sizes, and you need to make sure you choose the right size. Your sleeves should feel snug, but they should not be too tight.
Some sleeves are based on your shoe size or height, and others require you to measure your calf or forearm to choose the right size.
Whatever the sizing recommendations are, take them seriously so you can reap all the benefits of these sleeves.
Choose the Right Style
Finally, remember that your sleeves don’t have to be boring. There are lots of different colors, patterns, and styles out there to choose from.
If you want to make the act of wearing sleeves more fun, pick out a few pairs that match your personal style and preferences.
Want to Learn About Other Health and Fitness Tools?
A great pair of compression sleeves is one of the best tools you can use to expedite your recovery and maintain healthy blood flow.
But, there are lots of other great tools you could be using to make it easier for you to reach your health and fitness goals.
If you want to learn about other great tools, check out this article on high-tech home fitness gear that will change your approach health and fitness for good.