Compression tights: Placebo?
 

Looking for terse opinions/experiences. I can see how compressing tissues to force waste products out has merit, but seems that you would have to relieve the compression to allow blood to flow back in. Repeated cycles of compression/release would make the most sense. ?

i loved my compression calve sleeves for recovery when i run.

I'm wearing compression tights right now.

The evidence as to their effectiveness is sketchy. It's hasn't been noted to actually speed the ability to make hard efforts more frequently. I.E. something that would be an indicator of speedier recovery.

Friel did a big run-down on the research in 2011: http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2011/02...-clothing.html

It sounds like it might assist a little in recovery. I put it in the "maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, it can't hurt, except maybe your wallet" category.

interesting read. thanks.

I just wear them to embarrass my teenage kids!!

I use them when I fly or when I have to stand for long periods of time. I was diagnosed with DVT in 2009 and it was discovered then that my body creates blood clots. Among other things, they recommend compression stockings ... so tight I can hardly get them on. But when I do get them on, they are remarkably comfortable.

But I don't wear them during or after exercising.

Can't hurt? If they significantly restrict blood or lymph flow, they could be counterproductive. I'm not saying that they are, but not ready to completely rule it out either.

The hell you talking about.

So in other words they can hurt.

please don't be dumb

as you know, they are not higher than arterial pulse pressure

God, I would hope not. Speaking with complete ignorance on the topic I would think they would be of little to no benifit unless there was pre existing disease as in Matchka's case.

I think they are placebo. I can't tell the difference=.

It may be psychological, but I've convinced myself that they promote blood flow thereby allowing me to recover quicker.

Im not sure how much they help with recovery, but they can be beneficial in other ways.

Usually after long hard rides my achilles tendon is sore. I wore some compression socks during a century last weekend. I think the added support for my lower legs helped alot. My achilles tendon wasn't sore at all.

To be perfectly clear hear...medically, they are a viable treatment for many circulatory conditions. (DVT being the prime example...as in prevention of DVT, not treatment!) They are not dangerous. Having whacky proteins that cause my blood to clot really easily...and having DVT and a pulmonary embolism....compression is essential for travel. Once I started using them, I found they are great for travel even if I didn't need them medically. Highly recommended...I come off 16 hour flights and feel quite a bit better than without them.

For training, if you believe in them, they work! Scientific evidence? Not convincing!

I really liked reading this. I feel the study summaries support the use of compression for recovery better than Friel states.
One study that failed to indicate improved recovery didn't seem too well designed. Heavy squat sessions two days apart? Another was basketball performance. He included Sperlich et al. (#8) among the recovery studies saying no, but it the summary said nothing about recovery. Study#2 was about wearing the products while exercising.
Friel should have listed Chatard et al. (3rd study) among the supporting 'recovery' studies. Though the guys were not elite cyclists, that study seemed the most applicable for our purposes.
I've never worn the things and think they look dorky, but feel that the listed studies support the idea that wearing them after exercise will be good for you the next day. If I were a team manager or coach, I'd be pushing them on my riders for recovery, especially for stage races.

Compression socks are common for old people to keep the blood from settling in their legs.

they look like having varicose veins and blue skin otherwise. :50:

+1 and same here (although mine is a genetic tendency to develop clots)

They are not harmful, in fact, as I said, despite the fact that they are a struggle to get on, they are remarkably comfortable when they are on.

3 months after I was released from hospital, while I was still recovering from DVT, I got a job where I stood for 6-8 hours a day. My legs ached horribly, despite the fact that I was doing the recommended exercises. After a few days, I decided to try my compression stockings, and they made quite a difference. No more aching legs.

I can see why flight attendants wear them ... not only are they flying, which is dangerous, but they are on their feet a lot of the time.

Compression socks prevent plane crashes.


Now that's a tag line.

Ummmm ....

Not quite what I meant! :lol:

love my Skins compression calves!!

granny socks vs the fancy stuff? advantages of one over the other?

BTW - this (what you seem to be thinking) isn't how compression stockings work.


And for most people, simply slowly down at the end of a hard effort, and doing a cool down rather than just stopping suddenly, should help prevent a pooling of blood in your feet ... which is what compression stockings help prevent.