I’ve noticed a lot of people wearing compression sleeves and I’m wondering who wears them while racing and what type of results you have had?
Also are they helpful to wear after a hard workout to speed recovery?
Thanks!
In general wearing compression will help to speed the recovery, they have the added benefit of preventing sunburn as well. I wear sleeves for racing and compression tights for recovery after, the only down side to the sleeves that I see is if it is not a wetsuit legal swim they are not worth putting on in transition because they take too long and if you get a wrinkle in them it can get really annoying. The other downside is that depending on the brand they don’t all breathe that well, this can be a good thing on a cold race but in most cases they can get pretty hot in the warm races. I have found them more important post race for recovery than during the race though, especially if you wear the tights or socks.
I wear the sleeves for races oly and longer. I find it tends to reduce fatigue in my calves when running. No problems wearing them under a wetsuit, and quite often I’ll tuck the timing chip under them as I’ve accidentally ripped the chip off before while removing my wetsuit. Don’t usually wear them for training runs, but I’ll put them on after. A lot of apparel manufacturers sell compression sleeves, but not all actually offer medical grade compression - usually anywhere from 20-40 mmHg. SLS3 & CEP are two that I know publish the amount of compression. Word of advice - get black, not white - especially if you are doing longer events where you make rolling ‘pit-stops’.
Compression has been shown to possibly increase proprioception. I don’t wear them for any reason other than they’re comfortable for key workouts.
Same for after some hard efforts. Compression tights are just comfortable after a race or hard run.
Besides white handlebar grip tape it’s one of the best ways to look “pro”.
Wear them for recovery, not during races.
I don’t think they do a thing for my actual, in-race performance, per se.
I wear them in longer races as a preventative, since I’ve had chronic issues w/ my calf.
(Hopefully) avoiding injury = faster.
However - wearing them in races, seems to dramatically improve my recovery from said races. It’s like night and day.
I also wear them for recovery, period. I’ll even sleep in them when I feel the need.
I’m a big fan. No downside, other than looking even more like a total dweeb - but that ship sailed for all of us, long ago.
It could be all in my head, but I own the CEP sleeves and I swear they really work. I’ve never worn them in a race, but I think I’m stupid not to wear them. I’m unsponsored…simply a believer.
I wore a sleeve on my left arm for 2 races to keep some bandages on from a cycling crash. I noticed 0 improvement in cycling and running, and a slower swim time compared to what I am used to. Recovery improvement was also not noticeable.
I’ve noticed a lot of people wearing compression sleeves and I’m wondering who wears them while racing and what type of results you have had?
Also are they helpful to wear after a hard workout to speed recovery?
Thanks!
I’ve worn them at races before, but they are almost exclusively for recovery - so I wear them at races I am training through or when I can have them under my wetsuit (so they won’t slow me down to put them on). Arm sleeves are nice because it makes my arms less… “oh shit I’m gonna let go in this cross wind” on the bike - but the main reason I have worn them is for sun protection.
In general wearing compression will help to speed the recovery, they have the added benefit of preventing sunburn as well. I wear sleeves for racing and compression tights for recovery after, the only down side to the sleeves that I see is if it is not a wetsuit legal swim they are not worth putting on in transition because they take too long and if you get a wrinkle in them it can get really annoying. The other downside is that depending on the brand they don’t all breathe that well, this can be a good thing on a cold race but in most cases they can get pretty hot in the warm races. I have found them more important post race for recovery than during the race though, especially if you wear the tights or socks.
Did a race 2 weeks ago, NOT wetsuit legal, and saw numerous folks with compression calf sleeves. I myself have been dealing with off and on shin splint and recovering from a tibial stress fx. I use a CHO-PAT calf sleeve for the tightness is provides during running.
Sleeves should be banned because they hide the age group of the competitor.
I hate being passed by s.o. not knowing if he is in my AG.
I had asked the person doing my body marking about this (asked if they should put the age # in a higher spot on the leg, or even if the sleeves were ok to wear since they covered the #) at my last race & they said it didn’t matter. It might be nice if they make people w/; the sleeves put the number up a bit higher so it is visible.
I have started to wear them for longer distances since they keep my calves from cramping up - they seem to help quite a bit with this for me.
No intention of wearing them in a race, but I’ve been using the 110% calf sleeves and their “Overdrive” sock/sleeve kit after runs and rides and my legs have been a lot less sore than they were before I got the sleeves.
Did a race 2 weeks ago, NOT wetsuit legal, and saw numerous folks with compression calf sleeves. I myself have been dealing with off and on shin splint and recovering from a tibial stress fx. I use a CHO-PAT calf sleeve for the tightness is provides during running.
I’m dealing with a tibial tendon issue/shin splints. My sports dr mentioned that I should try out the CHO-PAT calf sleeve for IMWI in a month. Question for you: Is it a breathable material? I don’t want my shin/calf to feel like it is being thermally insulated during the race.
Thanks!
Ya not to bad. Using the CHO-PAT I cut off the two straps so it wouldn’t interfere with my wetsuit. I have also used COMPRESSPORT calv compression and love those. I still use those occasionally also. The good thing with the CHO-PAT is if I wear it for added compression for recovery, and its summer time when u wear shorts, I feel like less of a dink because it has no writing or crazy graphics over it. Still like a dink, but less if one :-). My wife also does endurance sports and understands its use, so she could care less what people may think of being seen with me while wearing it in public! Haha! Have u tried KT TAPE? That has worked well for me also–only drawback is it can be expensive and mine usually won’t make it thru swim session. I am 6’ 3" tall so those two brands have worked well for my long-ass legs.
Ya not to bad. Using the CHO-PAT I cut off the two straps so it wouldn’t interfere with my wetsuit. I have also used COMPRESSPORT calv compression and love those. I still use those occasionally also. The good thing with the CHO-PAT is if I wear it for added compression for recovery, and its summer time when u wear shorts, I feel like less of a dink because it has no writing or crazy graphics over it. Still like a dink, but less if one :-). My wife also does endurance sports and understands its use, so she could care less what people may think of being seen with me while wearing it in public! Haha! Have u tried KT TAPE? That has worked well for me also–only drawback is it can be expensive and mine usually won’t make it thru swim session. I am 6’ 3" tall so those two brands have worked well for my long-ass legs.
Rock on - thanks!
I have KT tape on right now, under compression socks (I cut off the foot portion). I’ll be testing out the tape tonight in the pool (I have the pro version). The Compressports look pretty good. I’ll try them out. I look like a dink no matter what I wear - my wife has just accepted it.
Cheers!
They work for me - I wear them due to past injuries to help with recovery from hard workouts and races. I wear a knee brace for most runs and wear one between the brace and skin because they are the only material thin enough that provides a barrier and stays on. They seem to help with the swelling in my knee after running. I also wear them during the races and afterwards as they really help with swelling and muscle fatigue. I also wear them on long flights (intl) and long drives.
Plus, they look sweet.