benefits of compression socks for running

Umesh Patel, a top cardiologist with 32 years of experience, compression garments are most beneficial when a person is standing and sitting without movement, and least beneficial when lying down or exercising because “Muscle pump helps venous return during exercise so there is less need while exercising.” They do keep your legs warm, and if you’re out for a long time running, they will limit swelling of the legs. In addition to the potential enhancement of athletic performance and recovery, compression socks have a couple of other benefits.

The general consensus among doctors is that there are no injurious effects from wearing compression garments while exercising, and there actually might be some benefits. Those who believe that compression socks enhance fitness training ascribe to the theory that the tights promote muscle efficiency by preventing oscillation of the muscles sideways.įor the average fitness enthusiast, however, the concern may be more with compression socks’ potential harmful effects if worn while exercising. However, one study did discover that when 21 male runners did a one-step test with compression socks and one without, on the test without the garment they were able to go longer before fatigue set in. Whether compression garments do indeed enhance performance and speed up recovery is still a claim unproven by a definitive research study. Manufacturers of compression socks and tights claim that these garments aid in the athletic performance and recovery from exercise by increasing oxygen delivery, minimizing muscle fatigue and preventing cramps and lactic acid. While compression socks have long been recommended for the modern office worker bees glued to their chairs 24/7, as well as for those on long flights in economy cabins with cramped seats and very little legroom, recently more and more athletes have taken to wearing them while running or exercising. This graduated squeezing helps to circulate the blood back to the heart, preventing swelling-or in more extreme cases- blood clots, from forming in the legs.

This elastic type of hosiery improves blood circulation by squeezing the leg at the ankle and delivering a gradually reduced tightening up the leg. For those of us who sit in front of a computer all day, or for those who suffer from insufficient blood flow from legs to the heart-the effects of which range from leg swelling and varicose veins, to the more serious problem of phlebitis and thrombosis-compression socks can be a real life-saver.

Benefits of compression socks for running