So I have recently started wearing compression socks in lieu of a recent, nagging calf injury in both legs. Aside from wearing them for long runs, I am also wearing them to the office everyday ( I spend most of my day sitting), I wear them to sleep at night, and generally put them on immediately post exercise. Does anyone else wear them to sleep? Does wearing them regularly diminish their value?
WHEN do you wear your compression socks
Personally, never! 
Have you ever tried them? I must admit, I feel a little silly wearing them, but I really do feel like they have helped my injury. Will I wear them for the whole season?? I don’t know, the jury is still out…
I wear them 100% during running and after I run. I don’t race long enough distances to wear them for the same reason that IM and marathon runners do but they have helped my strained calf muscles on both legs. I’ll wear them in a 5-K race next week too and I’m sure I’ll take a lot of crap for it but that’s cool.
I’m in the same boat as you, nagging calf injury, the socks seem to help me especially because I’m on my feet all day, I have the CEP and the SLS and from what I can tell, I think the SLS is a little better. At first I was a bit put off because the CEP are so nice and the SLS didn’t seem as nice, but after using the SLS and getting the info behind the differences between the two brands, I am starting to like the SLS more and more. Not that the CEP is a bad sock, just not as firm and it has padding in the foot where the SLS does not. But, I don’t wear padded running socks anyhow. I am going to run in the SLS at IMAZ next weekend.
Have you ever tried them?
No.
I have seen no hard reaserch that they help improve performance. There is some argument that they help recovery and thus may be worn post workout for recovery purposes.
I was at the IAAF World Cross Country running championships last week in Edinburgh, Scotland - perhaps the largest gathering of the absolute best middle and long distance runners in the world each year, and I noted almost none of these great runners wearing them - I counted one woman in the senior womans race and one in the senior mens race - both were well back in the field!
If the socks are so good, why is it that almost all of the absolute best runners in the world don’t use them?
fleck, the greatest women’s marathoner of all time has been wearing them for awhile.
fleck, the greatest women’s marathoner of all time has been wearing them for awhile.
That’s right, she does!
Just after I clicked on the post button for my previous post, I was going to ad an adendum about Paula, but you beat me to it. I knew that the very next post would be about Paula.
So if Paula is wearing them why are none of the other top runners wearing them? The funny thing about Paula is that she has never been an advocate for them. She does not seem to have a sponsor who promotes that fact that she wears them. She mostly wears flesh coloured ones so that from 10 feet away she looks like she is not even wearing them. I am curious as to what that all means?
Maybe Alberto Juantoreno had it right back in the 70s.
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I wear mine (well one at a time) just like the Red Hot chillie peppers did. They aid in recovery…
THAT is funny.
Holy crap, those socks fit you?
/me bows to your enormous member.
LOL, great post.
I wear mine (well one at a time) just like the Red Hot chillie peppers did. They aid in recovery…
I’ve always thought of compression socks as being more for people with foot circulation problems, like diabetics. Most of the people in this thread have worn them for calf problems, so I wonder why you wouldn’t wear a calf sleeve instead of a complete sock? I know several companies make them, and I’ve tried a few and liked them for my own nagging calf injuries. With a complete sock I worry about reducing circulation in your feet where you really need it during running.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
New York City
I think most of guys/girls who wear them only do so in training to help with injury, they likely would serve no purpose for those competing in the world cross country championships ‘during the race’…maybe at an elite marathon you would see more athletes wearing them…but even then I think most of the runners would shed the socks for the race. I would not be looking for “hard evidence” from a research study that they help or don’t help, things like this are not easy to research in the lab and the results will come from such narrow conditions that they will not apply to most situations and athletes with specific injuries. Personally they are really helping my low leg problems, and I feel zero signs of pain while running with them…and after runs I have no sore spots on the back of my tibia like I usually do…but yea, I have only wore them for four runs so the jury is still out for me!
Good enough for Smarty Jones, good enough for me…
ttp://www.kentuckyderby.com/2004/derby_coverage/derby_entrants/smarty_jones/
Slightly off-topic: Does anyone remember an article in Bicycling Mag back in the late 80s, early 90s (?) about Alexi Grewal wearing some type of compression tights to aid in recovery.
i only wear compression socks when im flying, spend to much time standing up or seated or after LD races.
i have no idea if they work, and i don’t plan on wearing them in warm weather, but they feel great on the legs. I have used them in training this winter and spring, and in worn them afterwards.
I am using a pair I got at a medical supplies store. Only $18. Cheaper then a massage.
I won’t pay$60 for socks that are not fully water proof.