Are you planning to participate in today's fashion event - a charity run? Have you decided to seriously go in for sports? Or did jogging in the morning become a necessity to keep fit? Then you just need to learn more about what compression leggings are, and perhaps they will become an integral part of your healthy sports life.
Fashion or need?
At sports competitions in triathlon, running or even jumping, you can increasingly meet athletes who wear compression leggings. And this is not only an element of a beautiful sports form. More and more professional and novice athletes are appreciating the benefits of wearing compression hosiery. In the case of leggings, they help reduce leg fatigue, prevent the appearance of severe muscle pain after exercise, and even contribute to improving athletic performance.
Every person who plays sports knows that regular health training can lead to various problems besides the health benefits. Most often, it is the legs that suffer, because regardless of the type of sporting activity, the greatest load falls on them. In addition to the usual krepatura, athletes often have microtrauma of muscle fibers and significant problems with veins in the legs, which are only exacerbated.
It is here that compression leggings for sports come to the rescue, which will not only improve well-being during training, but also accelerate the process of muscle tissue recovery.
How they work: mechanism of action
Compression leggings are called that way, because the principle of their action is based on creating additional pressure, or compression, in different parts of the legs.
During physical exertion on the legs, blood circulation worsens, namely, the outflow of blood from the lower extremities is impeded. This complicates the removal of toxins and breakdown products from muscle tissue. Impairment of blood flow leads to increased fatigue, muscle pain and swelling.
Sports compression jersey allows you to create additional pressure in different parts of the leg: the strongest pressure, or full compression, is placed on the foot. As the leg rises, pressure decreases - the smallest compression is noted at the highest point of the leg.
The pressure created by the compression gaiters helps improve blood flow, as if squeezing blood through the veins in those areas where the vessels are most difficult to cope with.
Athletes often wear special sportswear, socks and leggings. The compression elements of sports jersey perform a dual function: the prevention of pain and swelling, as well as the addition of a stylish sports image.
Theory and practice: do leggings really help?
The role of compression hosiery in sports is a considerable number of theories and beliefs.
Various studies by scientists around the world suggest that compression leggings for running really contribute to the outflow of venous blood. This not only reduces leg fatigue, but also speeds up the process of leaching toxins from muscle fibers, which contributes to their speedy recovery.
Moreover, a number of researchers argue that by wearing compression leggings for competitions, you can improve your athletic performance. This is achieved due to the fact that the pressure exerted on the limbs with leggings reduces the manifestation of muscle vibration and allows you to experience less resistance. As a result, speed and strength turn out to be greater.
Experienced athletes do not confirm that wearing compression hosiery can significantly affect the result. However, almost all athletes, especially long-distance runners and triathletes, agree with the fact that after training or competitions in compression socks, the recovery process is much faster and the pain syndrome is less pronounced.
Only for athletes?
The positive effect that compression leggings have on blood flow in the lower extremities is important not only for athletes.
Paradoxically, not only excessive loads, but also their complete absence, can worsen the outflow of blood from the legs. That is why problems with veins, increased swelling and fatigue are observed in people whose work is associated with sitting or standing in one place during the working day. And there are many such professions: almost all office employees, sellers, cashiers in supermarkets, and many others.
If by the nature of your activity you have to sit or stand a lot, and you know firsthand the problems with swollen tired tired legs in the evening, then it's time to choose a compression jersey.
But it is worth remembering: compression gaiters perform only a preventive function. They can alleviate unpleasant symptoms, but they will not cure serious problems that require specialist advice.
How to choose the right leggings?
If you decide to buy compression hosiery, then much attention needs to be paid to the correct selection of the product. If the size is chosen incorrectly, such leggings will not only bring no benefit, but may even harm.
Compression gaiters are selected according to several parameters. And in order to choose them correctly, it is necessary to measure the volume of the lower leg in the widest place. You need to do this in the morning, when the probability of puffiness is the least. In a calm state, with a soft centimeter tape, the leg should be measured in the widest place of the calf muscle. This will determine the volume of completeness gaiters.
Also the size of the leggings depends on the size of the foot. As a rule, leggings are stretched, and one size fits several foot sizes.
In addition, compression leggings are divided into male and female. Fundamentally, they differ only in height and size of the foot.
Experts recommend that men of short stature or with small foot sizes choose female models. This will avoid excessively high leggings that go into the knees.
Cheap or expensive: is there a difference?
The issue of price is often very relevant for many athletes, especially beginners. The temptation to buy a cheap analogue is great - the leggings sold on the market stalls look no different from expensive branded ones.
But on foot health, saving money can be a joke. The effect of cheap compression products can be zero, and wear can be lightning fast. Named manufacturers are not chasing the reputation and are not afraid to lose their customers.
Therefore, the conclusion is obvious: only well-known manufacturers of sportswear and accessories, only company stores to avoid fakes.
It is worth paying attention to well-known companies that produce compression leggings: CEP, Nike, Asics, 2XU.
Exercising helps maintain good physical shape and good mood. To minimize sports injuries and pain after training, you need to carefully load the body, as well as use modern developments of sports brands. Compression leggings - this is a real opportunity to get rid of fatigue and swelling of the legs, while not infringing on the quality and quantity of training.