Last Thursday I mildly strained my left gastroc (I believe, going to my ART guy tomorrow). It was all my fault, I had been doing lots of heavy intervals on the tranier and bumping my run up for Calif. 70.3, but not doing enough (or, OK, maybe any) stretching, rolling, etc., and knew my calves were tight. Ran hills anyway and last Thursday got the that sharp pain. had it once before, way back in '06-07
Been wearing a neoprene compression sleeve, icing and rolling, since. Going forward, do the zensah or zoot calf sleeves help prevent this type of injury? I see people running with calf sleeves and never really got it.
I’ve been nursing calf issues since early fall and believe they have helped me. I know it’s debatable depending on who you ask but for me, they help. I am using Zensahs and wish they were a bit more snug (compared to some compression socks I started out with just to make sure I thought they would help before dropping $40+ on the sleeves).
I also started stretching more so that probably helped too.
CJ
ETA: My brother was having some similar issues and I have/had enough faith in them to make the same recommendation to him.
ive battle calf problems. after a long run or bike i take a ice bath or very cold water for about 15 minutes then put my calf sleeves on for awhile with my feet up. all that and a roller its helped alot.
I have seen no evidence based study that they do. Of course we may never see one. Any advocate of them will only produce anecdotal gibberish. They may help prevent DVT’s after surgery or airplane travel but that is a different story than preventing muscular injury caused by/during endurance sports. That being said if you think you feel better and you think they help then keep on wearing them. I’m all for free will.
I know this is off topic but try new shoes. Last year I battled super tight calf muscles all year. For my IM race I had to use kineseo (not sure how to spell it) tape it was so bad. Oh yeah, I used compression sleeves to help me get through it and I believe they helped. Well a month or two after my race I went and got new trainers from Boulder Running Company. Wow, what a difference. My calves haven’t been sore all year.
Move to a week ago. My new Zoot race shoes came in. Went for a run on the treadmill at the gym and wore them to work the next day. By 2:00 my calves were tight and I could not I was not getting the support I needed. I am going back down to Boulder this weekend or next to try some different race shoes on. Hopefully I can find something a little bit lighter that will support my over-pronation. And since last week I have been running in my trainers again and all is well.
I do believe that compression sleeves are good, I don’t think they would have helped my injury. Although I did use them after the tightness started up. Hope this helps.
