• email
• facebook
• twitter
• google+
• linkedin
• pinterest
• xing
• reddit
• vk.com
• pocket
• print

Lots of people wear compression gear when they run or workout at the gym, but are they actually doing anything beneficial for you? We spoke with an expert on body movement, Dr. Reed Ferber, director of the Running Injury Clinic, to find out what these articles of clothing are supposed to do. Following is a transcript of the video.

Dr. Reed Ferber: I think compression clothing is so popular, because it’s just driven by media.

Runners are looking for the next best thing always. And this just seems to be the flavor of the month that’s been hanging around for a couple years.

My name is Dr. Reed Ferber. I hold a PhD in biomechanics, which is the physics of human movement.

Compression gear is any article of clothing, whether it be shirt, pants. Socks are the most common form of compression clothing. Where it constricts the body. 

It’s trying to either clear blood more quickly from areas, or it’s trying to prevent injury in the first place, by not allowing the body to move in specific ways.

So we’ll talk specifically about compression stockings or compression socks.

So generally, you rely on what’s called your musculovenous pump. You rely on muscles contracting, and that’s what’s going to move the blood up from your lower legs into your heart.

The faster, and the more blood you can get out of your legs and back into the general circulation, that blood’s going to get scrubbed. 

It’s gonna have all the metabolic byproducts of injury and exercise cleaned out of it.

Your body jiggles.

There’s a certain amount of vibration that occurs. Your muscles need to tune to whatever environment you’re running on. If you’re running on something soft, like the grass, there may not be as much jiggle. 

If you’re running on the hard pavement, your muscles have to work a little harder, because that’s gonna be a bigger shockwave traveling up your system.

So the more your muscles have to tune, the more prone they are to injury, the more byproducts, like lactic acid, your body’s going to produce.

So compression socks act to minimize the jiggle, and thereby decrease those metabolic byproducts of injury.

Compression clothing isn’t really going to help with more static exercises like lifting weights. They’re more designed for dynamic activity such as running.

There’s no real science behind the physiological effects of compression clothing. There’s been a few dozen studies. They’re very small in size. meaning they’re only involving a few dozen participants. And the results are mixed.  

So for every one study that says there are benefits to compression clothing, there’s another study that says there’s no benefits. And there’s another study saying that it might actually be harmful to you.

So it’s all across the board whether or not compression clothing is actually beneficial.

So the psychological benefits are there. People feel better wearing compression clothing. But the science doesn’t support the fact that there’s a physiological effect. 

So if somebody’s wearing them in the gym to lift weights, for example, they might just feel that it helps them to perform. To lift that heavy weight or perform whatever goal they have for the day. It may just be that little extra that they need to help recover from their injury or prevent injuries as well. 

Have I used compression socks?

Yes. More for the fact that I wanted to get a feeling for what they were all about. They don’t necessarily work for me.

They actually cause a little bit of muscle cramping. 

I’ve tried various sizes, various styles. But for me personally, anecdotally, I just don’t like running in compression gear at all.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/sai

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/techinsider
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/techinsider
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tech_insider/

BUY NOW

Price: $13.99

Copper Compression Socks for Men & Women(3 Pairs),15-20mmHg is Best for Running,Athletic,Medical,Pregnancy,Travel

 (12102)

✅COPPER COMPRESSION SOCKS - Copper is a great conductor of electricity, we extended its natural property to rejuvenate blood circulation in your legs through copper fibers capable reviving blood circulation along with providing a 15-20 mmHg compressi... (as of September 7, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

BUY NOW

Price: $19.59

5 Pairs Graduated Medical Compression Socks for Women&Men 20-30mmhg Knee High Sock(Multicoloured 1, Small/Medium(US SIZE))

 (4375)

✅GENUINE COPPER IONS SUPPORT RECOVERY AND PAIN RELIEF - Copper is a great conductor of electricity, we extended its natural property to rejuvenate blood circulation in your legs through copper fibers capable reviving blood circulation along with prov... (as of September 7, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

BUY NOW

Price: $26.99

CHARMKING Compression Socks Women & Men 15-20 mmHg is Best Graduated Athletic for Running, Flight Travel, Crossfit, Pregnant, Cycling - Boost Performance, Flexibility, Durability (L/XL, Multi 06)

MULTICOLOR COMBO - You get a color combination of your choice. Perfect for a whole week without daily wash. You are getting an amazing offer to keep your feet stay with optimal compression all the time (See the 7th image for the Size Chart)! High qua... (as of September 7, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

BUY NOW

Price: $27.99 $27.94

Under Armour Men's HeatGear Armour Short-Sleeve Compression T-Shirt , Black (001)/Steel , Large

HeatGear fabric, with all the benefits of UA Compression, comfortable enough to be worn all day Stretch-mesh underarm panels deliver strategic ventilation UPF 30 protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays 4-way stretch construction moves better i... (as of September 7, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Author: Tech Insider

Comments