What are the opinions here on compression gear for recovery?

I am not interested in wearing while training but afterwards, as that is what some are saying is the most beneficial.

FWIW: I just bought a pair of skins compression leggings. I ran 12 miles yesterday (2k total elevation), thought that I wouldnt be able to ride today but went out for the SUnday morning Mt. lemmon ride (20 miles 5K climb the whole way) and I felt great after warming up.

What I am really dancing around is what makes these better than say a pair of pantyhose? Football players used to wear these for the same reason and they are much cheaper.

thnks

what are they supposed to do?

Sports physiologists have said several times in the last few years that compression gear actually does nothing for performance or recovery. I'm thinking you're experiencing the Great Placebo Effect.

Recovery has a lot more to do with rest, diet, and your level of exertion than any "compression gear" available at retail stores. The level of pressure required to have an actual physiological effect (as that which pregnant women purchase for long flights) is measured in millibars and starts at $60+ per pair of pantyhose and sometimes requires a doctor to sign off on the purchase.

Well, okay. I do like the way that the skins feel after a hard workout and if I feel good, then let the placebo continue....

source?

Haven't looked through each of the actual studies, but this article has sources: https://www.amateurendurance.com/inju...ct-vs-fiction/

My wife swears by compress tights. I believe she uses Zoot brand. Her friend owns a womens cycling apparel business and is a big proponent of them as well. She does sell them, but didn't introduce my wife to them for just a sell.

my hubby is an ex professional athlete and recently qualified to run the Boston marathon next year. After his race he wore Zoot recovery tights and top. We drove home from Phoenix to SF (he did most of the driving) and was fine for the whole drive home and even the next morning was less sore than normal. Zoot's compression is the closest you can get to medical grade without a prescription. They cost a good penny but he swears by them, who am I to complain as long as I don't have to deal with "hunny can you grab me some water; hunny can you massage my calf muscle etc..." after a race

get The Stick for massages to help ridding your legs of metabolites

I second the stick, I use arnica massage oil with it as well.

Yep, these things rock. My physical therapist had me use one for an IT band issue I was having. Made a markable difference in my recovery.

Just to cite my sources, though I've lost one of them, the use of compression for performance I was able to find: "Compression clothing and athletic performance--functional or fad?", Indiana University, published 2010/06/03 (two independent studies: "Lower Leg Compression Sleeves: Influence on Running Mechanics and Economy in Highly Trained Distance Runners" and "Limb Compression Does Not Alter Jump Height Variability During The Vertical Jump."). I picked it up off EurekAlert some months ago.

The note on the use of compression for recovery is from a source I've lost.

When you have Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and especially if you have a predisposition to developing clots ... compression stockings can be helpful for preventing clots, especially when doing a lot of walking, standing, or sitting.

And yes, there is definitely a difference between compression stockings and pantyhose ... compression stockings are A LOT tighter. They can be very challenging to put on.

I developed a bad case of DVT on a flight to Australia last year, discovered that I have a genetic predisposition to developing blood clots, and now I wear compression stockings 3 or 4 days a week. So far, I just wear the ones you can get in your local pharmacy, but I need to order a prescription set which will be about twice as tight as my current ones.

When I wear them, my legs feel less heavy and less achy, and my ankles are less inclined to swell up. Should have worn them today ... my left ankle is quite swollen again.

I got some kinda of compression socks (generic brand) at a local drug store after seeing several pro cyclists wearing them after rides. i like 'em. They make my calves and feet (arches) feel good after a ride, especially several hours after my ride is done. After my stretching, shower, and later when I'm sitting around is when I see the benefit from wearing them. Just my opinion.

the stick is nice and effective, but real men use this:





later.

I just started using them a week or so ago (I got the Zoot Compression Tights FWIW) and I notice a difference.

Placebo or not, when you feel good you'll ride better.

i hear Zoots are preceived to be the best of the bunch. later.

isnt the DVT what Dr. House had?

1. I'm a fan of the placebo effect. If thinking I'm faster makes me faster, I'm still faster.
2. Tights make me feel faster (maybe the placebo effect). Wearing compression shorts when running gets funny looks, but wearing compression tights, well hell, I guess I still get funny looks. But I still feel faster.
3. I prefer Skins and CEP so far. I have the 2XU calf sleves and recovery socks; CEP calf sleves; Skins tights, bibshorts, and trisuit; some other compression socks. The skins bibshorts and trisuit are my two favorite articles of clothing. I have found the CEP sleves also fit very well.
4. If you want to read more, go over to a tri website. Most posts there end up in a pros/cons argument for/against compression.
5. I find it interesting there are so many discussions over the benefits of compression. I do a lot of things that have no basis, from the stiffness of my soles to the tpi of my tires. If I can waste my money on something cycling related, I probably will.

good thing, seeing as they serve no purpose during training.

...agree. On wasting my money on cycling things at least.

Riding is the only thing that will REALLY make me a better rider...but new toys make riding that much more fun!

What is that/are those?

my team is sponsored by zensah. i have compression socks, tights and shorts.

socks - i like for sitting at my desk all day, driving to/from races. do they "work"? some, i think, but they're not a magic bullet, better viewed as another part of your recovery program of good rest, sleep, diet, stretching, staying off your feet, etc.

shorts - i've got smallest they sell, i'm skeptical they do a thing.

tights - i've got the smallest they sell, i'm skeptical that they do a thing. they seem to be too thin to really "compress" and on a small person like me they're too long. other brands might have better design though.

i have friends who are better cyclists than me and whose opinions i respect who swear the 2xu brand compression tights are the best recovery aid they've ever used.

ymmv

No, he had a "limb infarction": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limb_infarction

I find the compression stuff really does work for recovery, there is a huge difference when I wear it overnight.