LEARNING CENTER: HOW TO
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST COMPRESSION RUNNING APPAREL: A BUYING GUIDE
Wearing a compression garment could help you improve your performance and recover faster. Stabilizing muscles through compression may reduce naturally occurring vibration and help your muscles work more efficiently, improving your overall performance. Certain compression garments can also aid in blood circulation, which helps the body recover quickly after exercise.
Types of Compression
At Running Warehouse, we classify compression apparel into three general categories: basic compression, support compression, and graduated compression.
Basic compression offers the same level of compression throughout the garment, resulting in muscle stabilization for all areas in contact with the garment. This type of compression is best for general muscle stabilization.
Runners looking to stabilize a specific muscle during activity should choose a product with compression for support. Also known as zoned or targeted compression, support compression is located directly on and/or around a specific muscle or group of muscles, thereby offering unique stability and better performance aid for the affected muscle or muscle group.
Runners looking to maximize performance and decrease overall recovery time after a workout should choose an item with graduated compression. Graduated compression offers continuous and controlled pressure to help move blood back toward the heart. In a graduated compression garment, the pressure is greatest in the area farthest from the heart, and the pressure decreases as it moves toward the heart. This gradually decreasing pressure results in improved blood flow to the heart.
Selecting Compression Gear
To find the best compression garment for your needs, we suggest first identifying when you will be using the garment. We offer compression garments designed for activity and garments designed for recovery.
Compression for Activity
During activity, any of the three types of compression will serve similar purposes: muscle stabilization for reduced vibration. Choosing a graduated compression item for use during activity will also increase the blood flow back to the heart. Generally speaking, if you will only use your compressive garment for activity, any compression item will suffice, and we suggest making your decision based on your specific needs.
- Do you have an injury, or wish to support a specific muscle group?
- Choose an item with targeted support to the desired muscle group.
- Do you think you might want to use the item for recovery at some point?
- Choose an item with graduated compression.
Compression for Recovery
While any compression garment can be worn during activity, if your primary use for the item is for recovery, choose a garment with graduated compression. Graduated compression increases blood flow, which results in faster clearing of harmful byproducts produced by the body during exercise. Additionally, muscles and tissues damaged by exercise can repair themselves much more quickly when greater blood flow is supplied. These factors typically result in reduced soreness and faster recovery time.
When choosing a graduated compression item for recovery, make sure you choose a garment with compression starting at the feet. This will help keep blood moving through the legs and feet during rest. These types of compression garments are also ideal for travelling, because they reduce the chance of an embolism or blood clot.
