Compression pants

So far I have yet to see a scientific paper that say they are better, but a lot of runners claim they make them better and recover faster. I have not tried them myself.

I use them, the CW-X(or something like that) kind(they keep my back from colapsing).
I have a very unstable lower back and if I don use them for my long runs, well them I am in trouble.

I started out with just the calf compression leggings. I've worn them 2x, once for a 7.2 mile trail race, and they seemed to help. Felt a bit strange and, well, tight, at first, but I forgot they were there after a bit.

I don't know if my quick recovery after the race was because of the zensa leggings or because of my superior form. Mabye next race I'll just wear one of them and compare leg recoveries.

Barefusser said:

So far I have yet to see a scientific paper that say they are better, but a lot of runners claim they make them better and recover faster. I have not tried them myself.

Click to expand...

Well, it's not about compression pants, but about compression stockings, and the trial was very small and not blinded, but in the first 2012-issue of Zapotek, a Belgian running magazine, there was an article about this (very limited) trial:
Subjects were 5 runners, who all had a compression stocking for one leg, and no stocking for the other.
The strenght of quadriceps and hamstrings in both legs was tested with a 'Cybex-machine' before and after a run.

All subjects had the impression the leg with the compression stocking was less tired than the other leg....
And the Cybex told, that in all subjects but one the strength of the muscles in the 'stocking' leg had diminished more than in the 'naked' leg...

I don't know I've never tried them but I would imagine it's like supporting your feet you shouldn't need them.

Here is my input regarding compression anything from a sports medicine point-of-view. While compression for recovery is still up in the air, there is another benefit to wearing compression with activity. Say you have muscle soreness or are recovering from an injury but are able to to progress back to activity...The use of a compression garment will take advantage of the first "level" pain relief theories. This "level" is known as sensory level pain relief or AKA the gate control theory. The compression stimulates a-beta afferent nerves which are not nociceptors (pain detecting nerves). The afferent speed of a-beta fibers is faster than that of a-delta and C-fiber nociceptors. This allows the a-beta transmission to reach T-cells more quickly and indirectly inhibits afferent pain transmissions.

In layman's terms this is like creating a bottle neck which only allows certain signals to pass through. Applicably think about when a person gets a contusion and rubs that spot. The sensation of "rubbing" helps override the sensation of pain.

This can also lead to the debate of should I mute my bodies perception of pain or not...