Anyone use calf tights?
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I got compression sleeves for
I got compression sleeves for Christmas. I used them after a run and a lower leg intensive crossfit workout and feel they helped my recovery. I can't quantify it, but I felt better the next morning (I slept in them after running in the afternoon/workout in the evening) with less "next day soreness" than i would usually experience.
I think there is the possiblilty of placebo effect there, though, where I think it's helping, so it helps. None of the science-y stuff I've read about the calf sleeves has conclusively pointed to benefit.
I got compression sleeves for Christmas. I used them after a run and a lower leg intensive crossfit workout and feel they helped my recovery. I can't quantify it, but I felt better the next morning (I slept in them after running in the afternoon/workout in the evening) with less "next day soreness" than i would usually experience.
I think there is the possiblilty of placebo effect there, though, where I think it's helping, so it helps. None of the science-y stuff I've read about the calf sleeves has conclusively pointed to benefit.
I used them on occasion. They
I used them on occasion. They saved me in my first 50k I did. I decided to throw them in my bag even though I hate running in them and at some point my calves hurt so bad I quite literally sat down and cried two miles from the finish. Thought may as well throw them on and see what happens and it made it bearable enough for me to walk the last 2 miles. The next time I put them on about halfway through the 50K and didn't have the same searing pain. I would wear them after long runs too. I never really wore them during long runs though. I figured my body should learn to be happy by itself as much as possible. I'll do whatever I can to help it recover, but during the runs I take a more spartan approach. Plus I just hate wearing them while I run. They feel so confining.
I used them on occasion. They saved me in my first 50k I did. I decided to throw them in my bag even though I hate running in them and at some point my calves hurt so bad I quite literally sat down and cried two miles from the finish. Thought may as well throw them on and see what happens and it made it bearable enough for me to walk the last 2 miles. The next time I put them on about halfway through the 50K and didn't have the same searing pain. I would wear them after long runs too. I never really wore them during long runs though. I figured my body should learn to be happy by itself as much as possible. I'll do whatever I can to help it recover, but during the runs I take a more spartan approach. Plus I just hate wearing them while I run. They feel so confining.
I'm with ajb on this. To me
I'm with ajb on this. To me there's a clear benefit to using them after a run, during intense training periods where I run every day I get a lot less sore the day after a run and I'm able to keep running. I haven't seen any benefit to using them during a run though but I haven't really pushed the distances that far yet.
I'm with ajb on this. To me there's a clear benefit to using them after a run, during intense training periods where I run every day I get a lot less sore the day after a run and I'm able to keep running. I haven't seen any benefit to using them during a run though but I haven't really pushed the distances that far yet.
I wear compression sleeves
I wear compression sleeves during and after my runs whenever I'm increasing speed or mileage. I've found that helps me to avoid TOFP (top of the foot pain).
Peace,
Karen
I wear compression sleeves during and after my runs whenever I'm increasing speed or mileage. I've found that helps me to avoid TOFP (top of the foot pain).
Peace,
Karen
They work. The "sciencey"
They work. The "sciencey" stuff is actually out there and it is legit. The compression clothing market we are getting as athletes is coming from the medical world where it's been in use for decades, if not longer. Diabetics, people with circulatory issues, nervous system conditions, and more often were and are prescribed compression sleeves to help them with their maladies. What happened is what happens with a lot of medical products and that is they realized there was a broader market that could benefit from it. High end athletes start using it for recovery and then it becomes a big story to the secrets of their success. Once that happens the rest of us want it too and we end up where we are now.
I've been using compression gear for a long time. Something like 15 years or so and I love it because it really does work. Sometimes I walk away from a race or hard workout with no pain after using my compression gear. Sometimes I have some pain but it's less than when I didn't use the gear. A lot of that is also attributed to things like nutrition and fatigue levels before you did the workout. I've also found that certain types of compression gear helps me perform at a higher level for longer periods because I'm wearing it during the race/workout. Those articles are more specific though as the weaving is directional to assist muscles instead of just being tightly woven stretch fabrics.
so yes...it works
They work. The "sciencey" stuff is actually out there and it is legit. The compression clothing market we are getting as athletes is coming from the medical world where it's been in use for decades, if not longer. Diabetics, people with circulatory issues, nervous system conditions, and more often were and are prescribed compression sleeves to help them with their maladies. What happened is what happens with a lot of medical products and that is they realized there was a broader market that could benefit from it. High end athletes start using it for recovery and then it becomes a big story to the secrets of their success. Once that happens the rest of us want it too and we end up where we are now.
I've been using compression gear for a long time. Something like 15 years or so and I love it because it really does work. Sometimes I walk away from a race or hard workout with no pain after using my compression gear. Sometimes I have some pain but it's less than when I didn't use the gear. A lot of that is also attributed to things like nutrition and fatigue levels before you did the workout. I've also found that certain types of compression gear helps me perform at a higher level for longer periods because I'm wearing it during the race/workout. Those articles are more specific though as the weaving is directional to assist muscles instead of just being tightly woven stretch fabrics.
so yes...it works
I wear them during every run
I wear them during every run and occasionally will keep them on afterwards if it's been a long or hard run. I don't care whether it's a placebo or not, the benefit is tangible for me so I'll continue to use them!
I wear them during every run and occasionally will keep them on afterwards if it's been a long or hard run. I don't care whether it's a placebo or not, the benefit is tangible for me so I'll continue to use them!
A brief review of the
A brief review of the literature doesn't seem to support a significant physiologic performance advantage, meaning that any measurable performance improvement could be due to placebo effect. Mention has been made of lactate recovery in the South African study but not having seen the study methodology myself, I can't endorse that effect as being statistically significant since I don't know the values, the sample size, how well matched the participants were, etc. Unfortunately, no one's thought of a way to blind the study (making it so the participants don't know if they're wearing them or not the way drug trials use real and placebo pills) since anyone can tell if their socks feel compressive or not. For this reason psychological effects (placebo effect) can't be factored out.
More agreement exists that they aid recovery by decreasing post-exercise soreness, although since there's no consistent physiology to back that up either, the reduced soreness could be partly or entirely psychological as well.
However, I have never heard of any way that they could be harmful, so if they make you feel better (which is really what counts), wear them!
A brief review of the literature doesn't seem to support a significant physiologic performance advantage, meaning that any measurable performance improvement could be due to placebo effect. Mention has been made of lactate recovery in the South African study but not having seen the study methodology myself, I can't endorse that effect as being statistically significant since I don't know the values, the sample size, how well matched the participants were, etc. Unfortunately, no one's thought of a way to blind the study (making it so the participants don't know if they're wearing them or not the way drug trials use real and placebo pills) since anyone can tell if their socks feel compressive or not. For this reason psychological effects (placebo effect) can't be factored out.
More agreement exists that they aid recovery by decreasing post-exercise soreness, although since there's no consistent physiology to back that up either, the reduced soreness could be partly or entirely psychological as well.
However, I have never heard of any way that they could be harmful, so if they make you feel better (which is really what counts), wear them!
I like my Zensah calf
I like my Zensah calf compression sleeves. I feel like they aid with recovery some, plus they keep my legs warm.
Ok, I think they look sexy, thats the real reason I wear them. You happy now???
I like my Zensah calf compression sleeves. I feel like they aid with recovery some, plus they keep my legs warm.
Ok, I think they look sexy, thats the real reason I wear them. You happy now???
I didn't mean to strike a
I didn't mean to strike a nerve, guys. I wasn't discounting them at all and really like mine. I just haven't been able to use them enough to get a real feel for their effectiveness, being injured and all. As for the Sciencey stuff bit, I didn't search far and wide, just saw a bit. I know compression is used medically and has lots of evidence to support its use (no pun intended). I just wasn't comfortable saying "they totally work, bro" since i hadn't personally seen more than anecdotal support for athletic compression.
And great; now I can't look at my Zensah's without seeing Chaser. I my never wear them again!
I didn't mean to strike a nerve, guys. I wasn't discounting them at all and really like mine. I just haven't been able to use them enough to get a real feel for their effectiveness, being injured and all. As for the Sciencey stuff bit, I didn't search far and wide, just saw a bit. I know compression is used medically and has lots of evidence to support its use (no pun intended). I just wasn't comfortable saying "they totally work, bro" since i hadn't personally seen more than anecdotal support for athletic compression.
And great; now I can't look at my Zensah's without seeing Chaser. I my never wear them again!
Gimmick, just roll the
Gimmick, just roll the calves. Most people wear them as a fashion statement and just try to look cool.
Gimmick, just roll the calves. Most people wear them as a fashion statement and just try to look cool.
Barefoot Gentile
Why on earth would anyone but Chaser wear them to look cool. They are possibly the most ridiculous looking "normal" sportswear out there. I actually hate wearing them both because of look and feeling squished, but I don't think they are a simple gimmick. I've never had any luck with rolling though. I get impatient and quit.
Barefoot Gentile said:
Why on earth would anyone but Chaser wear them to look cool. They are possibly the most ridiculous looking "normal" sportswear out there. I actually hate wearing them both because of look and feeling squished, but I don't think they are a simple gimmick. I've never had any luck with rolling though. I get impatient and quit.
I roll when needed and I love
I roll when needed and I love it with my Tiger Tail. It's a small sort of foam roller and I personally think it's the best one on the market.
As for a gimmick to look cool. I get what you mean as I've seen a lot of people at races with the calf sleeves on backwards so they obviously aren't fully informed on the product. I think a lot of people out there are wearing them because they are the monkey that saw and became the monkey that did (little play there). I also think a lot of them got sold something they don't fully understand but were complaining of calf pains or tiredness thus they are just wearing what they are told or are trying to wear what everyone else is wearing.
The rest of the people wearing them have an idea as to why and we all know we don't look cool. I ran a night race back in October and it was chillier plus my legs weren't trained properly for the distance so I wore my CEP calf sleeves for warmth and some added help. When I showed the race pics to my friends a lot of them asked me why I was wearing the "old man socks". Nope...I did not look cool.
I roll when needed and I love it with my Tiger Tail. It's a small sort of foam roller and I personally think it's the best one on the market.
As for a gimmick to look cool. I get what you mean as I've seen a lot of people at races with the calf sleeves on backwards so they obviously aren't fully informed on the product. I think a lot of people out there are wearing them because they are the monkey that saw and became the monkey that did (little play there). I also think a lot of them got sold something they don't fully understand but were complaining of calf pains or tiredness thus they are just wearing what they are told or are trying to wear what everyone else is wearing.
The rest of the people wearing them have an idea as to why and we all know we don't look cool. I ran a night race back in October and it was chillier plus my legs weren't trained properly for the distance so I wore my CEP calf sleeves for warmth and some added help. When I showed the race pics to my friends a lot of them asked me why I was wearing the "old man socks". Nope...I did not look cool.
Well mine are neon pink, do I
Well mine are neon pink, do I like to imagine that im some hot chick with a huge blonde perm, and im a backup dancer in a music video for someone like Sir Mix Alot or Madonna back around 1990. These thoughts usually help me run faster and recover faster too.
One time I imagined I was working out with Richard Simmons and sweating it to the oldies. That helped alot too.
Well mine are neon pink, do I like to imagine that im some hot chick with a huge blonde perm, and im a backup dancer in a music video for someone like Sir Mix Alot or Madonna back around 1990. These thoughts usually help me run faster and recover faster too.
One time I imagined I was working out with Richard Simmons and sweating it to the oldies. That helped alot too.
