One of the best things you can do for your body is to stay active, and for many people with busy schedules, going to the gym is the best solution. Working out regularly, no matter the intensity, will ensure that you feel strong and healthy and have more energy, no matter your walk of life. To do this safely and minimize the chance of injury, you need the right support and knowledge on how to exercise correctly.
Injuries can happen even to the most experienced athletes, which is why it’s so important to use all the tools at your disposal for prevention rather than risk getting hurt. This is where compression garments come into play. Compression socks can make all the difference, not just in preventing injury but also in boosting your performance and keeping fatigue at bay. Here are some benefits and tips on making the most of them.
Compression Socks Provide Much Needed Support
Do you like to run or play a team sport? Do you enjoy weightlifting or your time on a football field? Whether you’re a professional athlete or exercise to keep your health and agility, compression garments can help. The recipe for success is simple – you need all the support you can get while exercising because your body focuses only on surviving the ordeal.
Compression socks are there to provide more stability to our muscles and bones, which need to endure all the hard work and pressure that makes cardio and strength training strenuous. Both women’s and men’s socks with compression decrease the chances of injury and keep your bones and muscles in place. Bear in mind that these socks, while very beneficial, aren’t miracle workers, and the best injury prevention is being self-aware and knowing where your limits are. Once you do, compression hosiery can help you take your performance up a notch.
Better Circulation and Lymph Drainage
One of the best-known advantages of graduated compression socks is improved circulation. This is why they’re used not only in the gym but also by people with circulation problems or chronic venous conditions. The very reason these garments were invented was to help push the blood from your lower extremities back to your heart.
For people at the gym, compression socks can be a lifesaver because they can help diminish the sense of fatigue and the amount of lactic acid that stays in your muscles. Why is this a big deal? Because with too much lactic acid in your body, you’ll experience more soreness, which can be anything from mildly annoying to almost debilitating. If you’ve got well-oxygenated blood pumping to and from your legs with the help of compression, chances are you will recover more quickly from your workout. This is another reason you’ll see athletes of all sports wearing them: they want the additional perk that could make all the difference.
The same rules apply to lymph drainage. These blood vessels manage waste in your blood so it doesn’t wreak havoc in your cells. With the boost of compression socks, the lymph can keep moving further up the leg, thus decreasing the chances of swelling around the ankles, often experienced after a big workout. By applying gentle pressure to your lower legs, compression socks enable your blood to flow freely so that you can exercise at your best and then spend your rest days with significantly less soreness and pain in muscles and joints. This is the ultimate goal!
Compression Socks Can Help Keep Your Temperature in Check
If you ever went through an intense workout and felt like you were overheating afterward, chances are you weren’t wearing your compression socks. Because of the gentle pressure and improved blood flow they provide, your body is better able to adjust to any temperature, which in turn makes you feel more comfortable and less prone to injuries.
People with poor circulation often have cold hands and feet, which can hinder their training. If your body temperature isn’t optimal and your extremities don’t get enough blood, the muscles become rigid, and they contract, making them harder or downright painful to use. Graduated compression can mitigate this simply by improving the blood flow to and from your legs.
It’s the same if you’re faced with high temperatures outside, which can expose you to the risks of a heatstroke. Using your socks will make it easier to regulate your temperature and keep it at a level that is more conducive to your exercise goals and overall well-being.
As you can see, using compression socks in the gym can help you on many levels. The most important thing is to pick the right fit for you so that they’re not too loose or too tight, which can cause more damage than good. You also want your socks to be made of quality, breathable materials with moisture-wicking properties. That way, your feet will feel dry, supported, and comfortable, and you can fully focus on smashing your workout routine.
