What are compression pants for? Why do you need compression pants? Compression pants are an effective recovery tool for leg injuries

Now I’ll try to tackle an even more controversial question. Many people love compression clothing, many consider it pure marketing. Many people use it, many consider it too expensive. Many people rely on it for better recovery, many use it in competitions. There are a lot of contradictions, so I will try to minimize subjectivity and analyze the available materials on the topic. Of which there really are not many.

These guys have already approved compression in a circle and do not understand our doubts.

Unfortunately, information on the topic is on average of very low quality. The gold standard for checking various information with supporting links is Wikipedia, but it will simply stun anyone interested in the topic of compression. Let's open the site, read it, open our eyes even wider and close them. The material was written without a single supporting reference and with such harsh and ambitious statements that you involuntarily begin to feel sad. Are there any normal studies on the topic?
Judge for yourself.

Maximizes strength? Enhances movement? Ugh. What’s interesting is that absolutely the same thing is said about sportswear. At the same time, compression clothing costs quite a bit, and if you also noticed that they periodically lie on the Internet, this information is unlikely to be enough for us to buy clothes.

Research.
There are two fairly well-known tests of compression clothing, which were carried out in 2003 and 2007.

The first test by Doane, Newton and a crowd of others in 2003 tested the performance of 20 athletes in the 60-meter sprint and high jump. At the same time, they looked at the athletes’ movements, pulse and body temperature. The test involved 10 men and 10 women, comparing loose and compression clothing during exercise.
The test results showed no improvement in sprint speed. However, some differences were noticeable. The authors claim that compression landings reduced muscle vibration and concluded that it was beneficial in minimizing muscle injuries. The athletes’ movements also changed slightly, which is easily explained by the psychological effects of compression clothing. And in the compression suit, the temperature of the skin increased faster, which is also generally obvious. In principle, that’s all that’s interesting.

The second test by Duffield and Portus in 2007 was more technologically advanced. Ten male athletes were tested and tried three different brands of compression clothing. Each athlete spent a 30-minute training session wearing 4 different types of equipment: compression clothing from 3 brands and loose clothing. The sport was cricket, 20-meter sprints, throwing accuracy tests were carried out, and the researchers had a blast using additional equipment. Before and after the exercise, blood was taken for lactate, pH and pressure were monitored, and tests were performed 24 hours after these workouts. What is important is that in this case the compression was tested not only during exercise, but also during rest after it.
The results repeated the previous ones, but many new things emerged. There was no difference in sprints and total distance during training - they ran the same amount and at the same speed. The accuracy of the throws has not changed. And, what’s funny, there was no difference in the effect of compression socks of different brands both during training and during rest. Checkmate premium brands.
What did they find? The skin temperature in the compression suit again increased faster than in loose clothing. Obviously. But what's really important is that the researchers noticed a drop in creatine kinase levels during a 24-hour period of rest in compression clothing relative to loose clothing. This could mean either less damage to muscle cells or more efficient recovery. It's not very clear how this was determined, but the authors also reported less muscle pain. Bottom line - they recommended compression clothing for reducing muscle damage during training and for better recovery, but they do not recommend it for improving the athletic performance itself in competition.

Citizen Stickford from a medical center in Dallas came to similar conclusions (compression clothing does not work on the results, the results increased in two athletes out of 16 who believed in the effectiveness of compression clothing), recovery was not tested. And in 2013, more recently, Born, Spirlich and others conducted a much larger study in which they concluded that compression clothing may provide small improvements in both sprint and long-distance performance, and also reduce muscle damage and slightly speeds up recovery.

It was all practice. Let's now look at how this difference may appear.

It looks good, as you can see. There are also compression garments in the photos.

Theory.
Oddly enough, but there is just very, very little of it. Almost everyone talks about improving blood flow, articles in popular magazines are rampantly citing the above tests, but why... there is a problem here.
They decided to cover this issue most accurately on the website runlab.ru, however, even there, the entire explanation in the middle of a huge article was reduced to 1 picture and 1 paragraph of text. Here they are:

“Human veins include special valves that help move blood to the heart. When the health of the veins is compromised, and this includes ordinary leg fatigue and varicose veins - regardless of the severity of the situation, the same principle remains - the vein expands. When it expands, the valves form a gap that interferes with blood flow and disperses it. The principle of operation of vein valves is similar to the principle of pressure in a hose with water, because everyone knows that when the tip of the hose is pressed with a finger, the pressure of the water gushing out of it is stronger. Likewise, in order to speed up blood flow, it is necessary to “tighten” the valve of the vein, that is, to narrow it. Compression clothing puts pressure on the leg and compresses the vein.”

We have doctors on our website who, I am sure, will be able to provide counterarguments. If so, please speak up.

From all of the above, the following pros and cons emerge:

Pros:
maintaining constant muscle temperature
reduction of trauma and pain
speeding up the recovery process

Popular pros in online articles that partially contradict test results:
reduced fatigue
increasing body endurance
increasing muscle efficiency
improved coordination

Minuses:
increase in muscle temperature (in competitions in hot weather)
clothing care (usually very delicate washing)
price

Possible disadvantages (Ranlab introduces several more disadvantages, but does not confirm them with strict conclusions):
Not for people with poor circulation, diabetics, smokers, hypersensitive skin or open wounds. In general, if you have a complete set (we definitely have those) - just get up and leave the class. Well, you understand.

Reviews.
They are exactly the opposite. When this article was announced, several people reported that they use compression and it helps them. However, there are actually quite a few reviews. Let's bring some close to our cycling topic. As you understand, I can’t vouch for objectivity, but I’m collecting it for you to have a broad range of opinions.

Mikhail Sumar: “I’ve been using it for five years now, I have a different brand but also with brakes on top, they provide excellent relief after a race or a hard workout, I also wear it on flights and long trips behind the wheel, my leg is as fresh as a May rose upon arrival.”

From various cycling forums:
“Used X soxs socks. The foot actually gets less tired.”

“About compression garments and varicose veins. Regarding compression garments. First, go to a phlebologist and consult with him. Incorrectly fitted compression stockings or socks can only make the situation worse.”

“Works great for recovery and on long epics, more than 130 km. You put it on in the middle of the trip and it takes the fatigue off your legs.”

Zhenya Shipilov: “I always believed that compression stockings were needed for recovery, I myself use them only for this.”

I hope that you will write your feedback, no matter whether positive or negative, in the comments.

And now the important additions.

Compression clothing is expressly prohibited by UCI rules. It sounds like this:
“It is forbidden to wear non-essential items of clothing or items designed to influence the performances of a rider such as reducing air resistance or modifying the body of the rider (compression, stretching, support).”

According to UCI rules, the choice of clothing should be determined by the weather and not by an attempt to improve performance. The maximum height of socks is also strictly limited. And the racers actually walk on the razor's edge. We've seen it in downhill, we see it in all the modern road clothing. In fact, constrictive clothing exists; it helps reduce air resistance, and probably no one except the rider knows how strong the compression effect is. In addition, the rule of using compression is regularly violated and is normally used only at top road races and races at the World Cup level and above. For example, in enduro, compression stockings are widely used by riders at European Cup stages, where UCI judges stand at every start and finish.

An example of a topic with a height limit for socks/shoe covers.

There is another point that is rarely talked about, but it definitely exists. Psychological. Honestly, this is why I have been using compression in recent years. Valya Popov told me the same thing about himself. When you put on a compression suit, you begin to feel strongly that you are wearing clothing. If we are talking about enduro and you are not wearing protection, then this effect helps dull the feeling of fear on the descent. Closed elbows in DH and enduro, closed knees in cross-country. For me personally, this gives a noticeably greater feeling of protection, which in fact has not increased one gram. That is, it helps morally and there is absolutely no thought in my head that this will somehow help the result through better blood circulation.

Well, here's my personal review.
Now I have 2XU clothes on test, which I replaced with the photos of girls above. I will write a story about it, but I’ll say right away that the quality of compression clothing, taking into account past tests about their equal effectiveness, is probably fair to evaluate not by the effect on the body. Because it’s normal that we won’t check it anyway. But there are quite clear parameters - the quality of the seams, comfort, the presence of problem areas in the models (and in my experience they happen more often than it seems), whether the fabric deteriorates from wearing (and it deteriorates in many compression suits!), etc. In addition to 2XU, I have already used Skins, Nike, Craft and even, out of curiosity, a couple of representatives of the Chinese no-name. And the problems are surprising in their diversity.
In general, this is ahead and there is a separate post about what to pay attention to.

If you are actively involved in sports, then your blood vessels need additional support. Otherwise, the risks of various diseases may increase. Therefore, to help your blood vessels, you need to use sports compression garments. For many years, this type of clothing has been used to improve the performance characteristics of the athlete and increase his level of comfort. Today we will tell you why an athlete needs compression clothing.

Compression clothing comes in socks, pants, leg warmers, T-shirts and other options. First you need to understand how compression garments work. The principle of operation is to compress the veins to varying degrees and narrow the blood vessels. As a result, blood flow accelerates, the functioning of the circulatory system is facilitated, muscles are enriched with oxygen and nutrients, and decay products are removed from the body.

The main function of sports compression clothing is to compress the limbs and help blood vessels function correctly and withstand heavy loads.

In medicine, there are 4 classes of compression. However, you can only buy and select compression sportswear on your own with compression class 1; otherwise, you need to consult a specialist. Compression class 1 is preventative. It should be used if you find yourself with enlarged saphenous veins or spider veins.

The effect of compression sports clothing.

Professional and amateur athletes often use compression sportswear during training and preparation for competitions. What is it for?

• Prevention of thrombosis and additional stress on the cardiovascular system, since a person is under excessive load, the vessels lose their shape, and the functioning of the valves is disrupted;
• Injury is reduced, as vibrations are reduced and additional support is provided to the muscles;
• The sensation of the body in space increases;
• Training becomes comfortable, since sports compression clothing has good thermoregulation and elasticity;
• The outflow of venous blood is stimulated;
• Blood circulation improves;
• The process of tissue restoration is accelerated;
• Efficiency and endurance increase;
• Swelling of the legs decreases;
• Prevents the appearance of calluses;
• Coordination improves and muscle reaction time is reduced due to increased proprioceptive sensitivity.

In addition, scientists in Auckland from Macy University showed that only 14% of athletes who ran 10 km in compression socks experienced delayed muscle pain. By comparison, 93% of athletes who ran 10K without compression socks experienced shin pain the next day.

When to wear compression sportswear?

• During prolonged exercise;
• If you are predisposed to varicose veins;
• For recovery after competitions or heavy training.

However, it is not recommended to wear compression sportswear all the time. Because there may be an overdose effect. Remember that with constant pressure, blood vessels may no longer maintain their natural tone. And this will cause the same problems as with insufficient compression.

We also draw your attention to the fact that sportswear with a compression effect should fit tightly and be difficult to put on, but at the same time without restricting movement.

Contraindications for sports compression clothing:

• Atherosclerosis;
• Orthoarteritis;
• Endoarteritis;
• Thromboangiitis obliterans.

If you still don’t know why compression clothing is needed for sports, then pay attention to its main advantages: additional muscle support, accelerated recovery and reduced injuries. All these factors are very important for both a professional athlete and an amateur.

Recently, a lot of people involved in any kind of sports (exposing their muscles to intense training), come to classes, competitions, and also recover after heavy loads in tight-fitting, tight suits that emphasize the figure - in so-called compression clothing. Although not so long ago, when you entered the gym, you saw people there in loose shorts and large, oversized T-shirts; it was convenient for training and also hid figure flaws. What has changed? Why is all this needed?

Let's see - what does compression clothing give a person in sports and in boxing in particular?

Compression sportswearmade of specialized elastic materials (sometimes with the addition of various components that improve one or another property of compression clothing) that fit the body. The word compression means “squeezing” in English. That is, these are clothes that provide balanced pressure on certain areas of the body.

Compression technologies (squeezing technologies) appeared in medicine more than 60 years ago to treat patients suffering from vein diseases by increasing blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, and saturating tissues with oxygen. Sports doctors immediately took note of the good effects of such clothing. In the late 1980s, scientists began researching whether athletes could benefit from wearing compression garments that improved circulation. It turned out that the use of compression socks improved venous circulation in the leg, which reduced swelling and stretching and lowered the level of lactic acid in the blood after grueling exercise. Later they began to use compression clothing for other parts of the body in order to expand the potential capabilities of the body, improve muscle performance, reduce their vibrations, and improve posture.

Such clothing supports the muscles, enhances the athlete's movements, preserving and returning energy when muscles stretch and contract during physical activity.

A set of compression clothing provides the athlete with a little more endurance, strength, and energy efficiency. Compression clothing fits tightly to the body and allows you to better feel every movement, which means better control of the situation. The athlete can perform at full strength at higher speeds and for longer periods of time.

Advantages compression clothing :

• Maximizes the power of movement - causes increased blood flow and increases oxygen delivery to muscle groups, thereby improving performance.
• minimizes fatigue, allows you to quickly recover from the most intense workout - improved blood circulation also helps the body reduce the build-up of lactic acid and other metabolic waste.
• reduces muscle tension, minimizes the risk of cramps - compression clothing, as it were, fixes the muscles and prevents vibrations during movement, thus saving energy, preventing injuries and the body gets back into work faster.
• removes moisture, retains heat, protects from the sun and gives comfort.

Thanks to such remarkable properties of compression clothing, many athletes use it not only for training and competition, but also for recovery. In addition, compression clothing has become part of everyday life, used for standing work or during long hours of air travel or long car trips.

Another benefit of compression clothing is the fabric's ability to wick sweat away from the body, keeping you warm in the winter or cool in the summer.

Types of compression clothing

Rashguard (rashguard or rash guard - literally “protector against rash”) is an elastic T-shirt with short or long sleeves, made of special materials, which fits snugly to the body. This piece of equipment is now used by fighters of all directions.

What are the advantages of a rashguard over regular cotton T-shirts?

• Rashguard performs all of the above functions - endurance, injury prevention, improved blood circulation
• A rash guard is an excellent means of protection against an unscrupulous sparring partner. In this equipment, the likelihood of contracting any skin disease, irritation or acne is reduced to zero. And due to antibacterial impregnation, you get complete protection from pathogenic bacteria and microbes.
• Rashguards allow air to pass through well, dry very quickly and practically do not tear. It takes a lot of effort to spoil and tear such equipment. It is very convenient and effective to exercise in it; you practically do not feel it on yourself, since it is very light. It is for this reason that a rashguard is often called the “second skin” of an athlete.
• In such equipment you will not be afraid of minor abrasions and burns on mats.
• During a break, this equipment does not allow your body to cool down, which helps prevent sprains and minor injuries to muscles and ligaments.
• Don’t forget about the aesthetic appearance of an athlete, especially if you have a sculpted body. A fighter dressed in such tight-fitting equipment looks very impressive and intimidating to his opponent.

Compression shorts and pants perform the same function as rash guards. They provide targeted compression for better blood circulation, remove sweat, keep the body warm, save energy and prevent injury.

I use these clothes both on their own and under shorts.

Perform the same function. Should be in the arsenal of all athletes, since no matter what sport you engage in, the legs always experience the greatest load - especially for boxers, on whose footwork at least 40% of the success of the fight depends.

A compression sleeve on the arm is suitable for any sport where there is stress on the arms and forearms. It wraps the arm in a tight ring, preventing strong stretching from occurring, that is, it keeps the muscles in a normal state. During work and stress, gradient compression technology helps relieve fatigue in the arm muscles. The compression sleeve regulates temperature and wicks away moisture.

So, compression clothing will help make your training, competition or recovery period after heavy loads more fruitful. With compression - You can always count on additional support, reduced injury and faster recovery. It’s not for nothing that all superheroes wear tight suits...

Compression sportswear is a type of clothing used to speed up the recovery period, improve the athlete's performance characteristics and increase the level of comfort. This clothing causes a lot of controversy among scientists, but all the results of recent research suggest that wearing such underwear has many advantages.

The main principle of operation of compression clothing is squeezing superficial and deep veins, narrowing blood vessels and accelerating blood flow, as a result. At the same time, more oxygen and nutrients enter the muscles, carbon dioxide and decay products are removed.

Since this underwear holds the body well, trauma is reduced and proprioception (sense of the body in space) increases. It is especially important to remember this when you want to achieve correct foot placement and improve coordination. Like any sportswear, compression underwear makes training comfortable, having good thermoregulation and elasticity.

History of invention

The very first use of the compression method can be considered the application of tight bandages in Ancient Egypt. Soldiers and slaves bound their legs with leather or cloth to relieve fatigue and swelling. Later, in the Russian army there was even a name for these bandages - “onuchi”. They were used on long hikes to increase endurance.

The idea of ​​​​creating compression garments appeared after the creation of an elastic bandage with polyurethane fibers, which soon began to be used in a variety of areas, and not just for healing wounds. Very soon, compression (squeezing) with bandages became a separate type of treatment. Later, by the twentieth century, the first products with a compression effect were created. One of the main advantages of this underwear was that it applied constant pressure and did not require constant tightening of the bandage.

Nowadays, compression garments are used in treatment and the recovery period after surgery, during pregnancy and in sports.

Medical compression clothing differs from sports clothing in the degree of compression, elasticity of materials and wearing comfort. Medical compression clothing is not designed to create the most comfortable temperature for the body and fit it perfectly. As a rule, it is created from coarser materials and compresses the areas of the case much more strongly in order to obtain a therapeutic effect.

Use and application in running.

It is not for nothing that wearing compression garments is indicated during the postoperative recovery period. It reduces pain.

As you run, your foot hits the ground and sends vibrations up your leg, causing the muscles to shake. It should be noted that the result of this shake-up is very individual for each athlete; in addition to physiology, it depends on the surface on which the person is running, on the correctness of his technique and the duration of the run. By the way, the most dangerous running option in terms of injuries is running downhill, since the muscles are overloaded with vibration. Any shaking of the muscles leads to pain after a run and can sometimes damage the muscles. With the help of compression, the muscles are fixed, which reduces the risk of injury and pain after physical activity.

A study was conducted in which scientists found that 24 hours after running a 10-kilometer distance, athletes who used compression socks noticed a decrease in pain in the muscles of the foot and lower leg. It is also interesting that the pain in the remaining areas where compression was not applied was the same.

Compression garments help speed recovery after workouts. It creates additional blood flow, removes toxins and helps replenish essential substances. This fact is also confirmed by research. This time, subjects had to complete a three-strength exercise test after wearing compression garments for 24 hours after completing plyometric exercises (which typically cause pain). The tests were carried out over four days. The result showed that athletes who used compression performed exercises better and complained less about pain.

When compression is used, a decrease in heart rate is observed.

A test was conducted in which the frequency of contractions during physical activity was measured, the result of which was the deduced fact that the pulse of athletes participating in compression garments was 2-3 beats less than that of participants in regular clothes.

During the same test, thigh circumference measurements were taken. During the recovery period, participants wearing compression garments experienced a noticeable reduction in swelling (about 1 cm), in contrast to those wearing regular clothing (about 3 mm). This suggests that compression garments reduce swelling.

There is also an opinion that compression garments are used to increase running speed. This happens as follows: clothing compresses the blood vessels, and they drive more oxygen and blood into the muscle, while waste products are removed. This leads to an increase in the power of the muscles working to produce energy, and the athlete runs faster.

However, there are no studies that unconditionally confirm this fact. Also, there is no evidence that this underwear slows down running. The debate on the topic of increasing running speed with the help of compression has not stopped for several decades. Perhaps this is because the weight of the socks (85-90 grams) interferes with fast running, slowing it down by fractions of seconds gained by increasing muscle power.

Anatomical rationale

Human veins include special valves that help move blood to the heart. When the health of the veins is compromised, and this includes ordinary leg fatigue and varicose veins - regardless of the severity of the situation, the same principle remains - the vein expands. When it expands, the valves form a gap that interferes with blood flow and disperses it. The principle of operation of vein valves is similar to the principle of pressure in a hose with water, because everyone knows that when the tip of the hose is pressed with a finger, the pressure of the water gushing out of it is stronger. Likewise, in order to speed up blood flow, it is necessary to “tighten” the valve of the vein, that is, to narrow it. Compression clothing puts pressure on the leg and compresses the vein.

Active compression - intended for use during sports activities. For example, compression socks CEP(C11WG)W are designed to improve muscle performance, improve coordination, increase running speed, prevent the risk of injury, thrombosis and reduce pain.

Types of compression

And recovery compression is suitable for wearing after training. For example, restorative compression socks CEP(C1RM5) help reduce pain after exercise, reduce swelling, prevent the risk of vein disease and reduce fatigue.

Compression in the right underwear is always graduated. Often the foot is treated with a high level of compression and rigid fixation of the joints, and then the pressure is reduced, which allows you not to put pressure on the shin and correctly distribute the load.

Based on this principle, compression socks can be divided into two categories: for training and for competitions.

The former have less pressure on the lower part of the leg, they do not put as much pressure on the ankle and sit softly on the leg, which makes them a non-aggressive compression garment for training running.

It is clear that constant and frequent squeezing is not beneficial for healthy legs without varicose veins. This also explains why you cannot wear compression all the time. The main reason why you should not overuse compression is to relax the muscles of the vascular walls. The vessels cease to naturally maintain their tone. As a result, due to frequent wearing of compression, varicose veins or swelling can easily develop.

Another point is training. With constant compression training, the leg muscles are trained weaker, which reduces the training effect. Our advice is to use compression when necessary: ​​during competitions, for recovery, during training periods with forced loads.

To achieve better results in competitions, athletes use a second type of sports compression garment, which provides more rigid compression in the lower part of the leg. This fixes the muscles and brings them to the most effective and safe state.

Popular manufacturers of compression garments

• Skins.

The clothes of this brand are very different from all others in appearance; the design of this Australian brand attracts attention. The line does not include bandages and orthopedics, but it is easy to choose, for example, tights or a T-shirt.

• Compressport

The Swiss brand Compressport does not make all types of underwear, but it is distinguished by increased attention to technology and the development of new materials. There is also no women's line, although many items can be considered universal, such as leg warmers and knee socks.

The CEP brand focuses on the medical component of its products. The line does not include all types of sports compression underwear, since it is mainly a manufacturer of medical compression MEDI. But compression leggings, socks and knee socks of this brand are very popular.

• Asics

This brand is conventionally classified as a manufacturer of compression garments, as they have a “Muscle Support” line. In terms of functionality and purpose, this is compression sportswear.

The 2XU brand stands out from the crowd, mainly due to its noticeable design and recognizable pattern.

Main types of compression sports underwear:

• socks
• knee socks
• loincloths
• gaiters
• sprinters (analogous to shorts)
• tights (analogous to leggings)
• overalls
• t-shirts
• T-shirts
• sweatshirts

Advantages and disadvantages

So, the main advantages of compression clothing for running include:

• reduced fatigue
• increasing body endurance
• increasing muscle efficiency
• maintaining constant muscle temperature
• reduction of trauma and pain
• improved coordination
• speeding up the recovery process

Among the disadvantages of compression garments used by athletes, they point out the difficult care of the products and their high price. A small percentage of people do not like the process of getting used to the feeling of compression on the body; sometimes they note that in very hot weather the foot feels uncomfortable in a compression sock. In addition, there are a number of medical contraindications that you should familiarize yourself with before purchasing compression sportswear.

First of all, the use of compression is not indicated for people who have circulatory problems, patients with diabetes, and smokers. Contraindications also include open wounds, dermatitis, and hypersensitive skin.

How to choose compression garments

In order to choose compression sports underwear for men or women, you need to start from two simple parameters - type of activity and size. Check the size ranges with your girths, as there may be discrepancies in the size tables. When choosing this type of clothing, even an extra or missing centimeter can negatively affect the level of comfort.

Please note the following points:

1) the product must be made of synthetic materials, this is what ensures its elasticity and compression effect;

2) the type of compression and elasticity depends on the weaving of the threads of the product;

3) compression clothing for running and for any other type of activity must fit perfectly, the correct product does not restrict movement and does not rub the skin;

4) the appearance of sports compression clothing affects the mood of the athlete:) Also pay attention to the luminous leggings, which will allow you to safely exercise in the dark.

In today's informational article, LYNX, in which you can, perform, and, will tell you why compression clothing is needed, what properties and advantages it has.

Why do you need compression clothing for sports?

Compression clothing, due to its special characteristics and properties, allows athletes to solve a number of important problems:

1. Improving blood circulation during sports or rehabilitation procedures. Increasing blood flow in the body of athletes is the main task that is assigned to compression clothing. Thanks to its characteristics, clothing allows you to create and distribute pressure on the muscular system, and therefore, by performing physical activity, the athlete increases the speed of blood movement in the body. As a result, the muscles are better saturated with fresh oxygen, increasing their own endurance and performance. In addition, the use of compression clothing during training and competitions makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of muscle spasms and eliminate the feeling of heaviness.
2. Prevention of varicose veins. The use of compression clothing as a preventive measure for varicose veins is considered by modern medicine to be one of the most effective and efficient ways to overcome this disease. In addition, systematically wearing clothing that has a compression effect is a good way to prevent the onset of the disease, especially for those people who are at risk.
3. Faster recovery process after training. Clothing with compression properties also improves the speed of blood flow in the body, which is at relative rest. And as a consequence of this, the athlete’s muscular system recovers more quickly after intense or very high physical activity.
4. Reducing the risk of injury. Clothing that tightly fits the athlete's body, for example, rash guards, which inherently represent a second skin, is essentially a lightweight but very durable bandage. Such a bandage acts as an effective means of supporting the athlete’s muscular system and joints, reducing the risk of injury.
5. Prevention of calluses. Being a second skin, clothing with a compression effect fits onto the legs as reliably and tightly as possible, without slipping off during sports or forming folds. As a result, the risk of blisters is significantly lower than when using conventional sports equipment.

How to choose compression clothing for sports?

In order to choose the right compression clothing, an athlete should adhere to the following tips:

1. Determine why exactly you need compression clothing. At the moment, manufacturers produce and offer consumers two options for clothing that have a compression effect. The first type includes clothing for physical activity, and the second type includes clothing for faster recovery after injury. The main difference between these types of clothing is the different level of conversion. So, for example, in order to buy compression socks for loads, you need to measure your calf, and for recovery, you need to measure your ankle.
2. Measure yourself correctly. When deciding to buy compression clothing, you should remember that they are not the same size as what you wear in everyday life. This is due to the fact that sports equipment, which has a compression effect, is denser and more difficult to pull on than regular clothing. In addition, it should tightly fit the athlete’s body, sitting on him like a real second skin. It is for this reason that each major manufacturer of compression clothing has its own size chart. And therefore, before buying a rash guard, compression pants, shorts or leggings, you should first measure yourself with a centimeter and, based on the data obtained, choose the most suitable size for yourself. It is worth saying that it is best to take measurements every time before choosing compression clothing, since the muscular system has the ability to pump up or lose weight, and therefore change in size.
3. Don't be afraid of tight clothes. When choosing clothing with a compression effect, remember that it should be tight when put on. For this reason, you should be prepared for the fact that you will have to pull it on yourself with great difficulty. If you choose socks, shorts or a rash guard based on your usual clothing size, then most likely this equipment will make you feel uncomfortable while playing sports.
4. Before purchasing, decide for what loads you need clothing. This is especially true for those who decide to purchase compression socks or leggings. This is due to the fact that gaiters can be used for swimming, after which the athlete will not suffer from the fact that this equipment got wet in the water; such clothing is most interesting to triathletes. If we talk about gaiters, they are considered more multifunctional and can be used in all sports. In addition, a large assortment of golf socks manufactured by manufacturers will allow the athlete to choose a model designed specifically for his sport. Thanks to this, they will take into account not only the dynamics of the exercises, the presence of certain types of load, but also the most frequently used shoes, as well as various external factors.
5. Pay close attention to the quality of the fabric. It is worth remembering that the quality of the fabric, as well as flat, non-chafing seams are one of the most important guarantees of high-quality compression clothing. Therefore, when choosing clothing with a compression effect, carefully consider these factors.

How to wear compression clothing correctly?

1. Remember that compression garments should be difficult to put on. Don't expect that putting on your purchased compression garments for the first time will be easy. As a rule, a person who decides to try training in such equipment for the first time will need some time to get used to quickly putting on compression clothing on his own.
2. Get help. If you have purchased compression socks or shorts, but cannot put them on yourself, an excellent solution in this situation would be to purchase a specialized device, which can often be found in online stores, as well as departments selling therapeutic compression hosiery.
3. Please read the instructions carefully. As a rule, each manufacturer includes detailed instructions with its compression clothing on how to put on and use the product. Try not to neglect this information that is useful to you, as in these instructions you can get the fastest and easiest way to put on the product you purchased.