Certain athletic or sports activities require repetitive movements of the calves or legs. These repetitive movements can cause several calf problems. The most common calf-related injuries in athletes or sportspersons may include muscles cramps, muscles strain, Achilles tendinitis, sciatica, contusion, compartment syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, and more. The leading causes of all these injuries may vary.
The symptoms of a particular calf injury may also depend on the conditions. However, the common symptoms of calf injuries may include pain, difficulty standing on the toe, difficulty tensing your calf muscles, problem bending your knees, sudden pain in the lower leg, and swelling around your calf muscles.
The common sports or athletic activities that can cause leg pain may include running, biking, swimming, powerlifting, tennis, badminton, baseball, and others. However, certain other conditions may also cause calf muscles pain, and these include medications (such as cholesterol-lowering drugs), diseases (hypothyroidism, diabetes, or peripheral artery disease PAD), oedema in the lower leg, heat exhaustion, dehydration, dialysis, tight or short calf muscles, pregnancy, and smoking.
Experts suggest several treatment plans helping get rid of calf muscle pain. Wearing the best calf support or compression sleeves are the most effective tools to lessen the calf pain.
We come with the potential aspects of wearing calf compression sleeves. You can get a complete idea of what calf compression sleeves are and how they work. As well as this, we have done fine research on other aspects, including how to choose, how to wear, and how long should you wear calf compression sleeves. Moreover, you can also get the potential side effects of wearing calf compression sleeves. So, let’s start here;
What is calf support or compression sleeves?
A calf compression sleeve is an elasticated fabric that slides in place over your feet. It fits around the calf below the knees and above the ankles. Calf compression sleeves are worn for a variety of purposes. For example, you can wear them before or after workouts, running, or other athletic activities. Wearing compression sleeves helps keep your calf protected against overuse and repetitive movements, helping reduce the chances of injuries. As well as this, they also help speed up the recovery process following calf or leg injuries.
How do calf support or compression sleeves work?
Wearing calf compression sleeves help you in a variety of ways, including:
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Improve blood circulation
Calf compression sleeves help gently increase the pressure in your veins, increasing blood flow back to the heart. It stimulates your circulatory system, ensuring calf muscles have a constant flow of oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood. For some conditions like calf strain, you need more oxygen in your calf muscles to promote the healing process.
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Improve lymphatic flow
Where calf compression sleeves help improve your blood pressure simultaneously, they also help improve the pressure in your lymphatic veins. The lymphatic system works to drain away the waste products released from your calf muscles. The lymphatic flow also helps clear the area of injured or old cells, making way for new cells.
As well as this, the improved lymphatic system also helps reduce pain and swelling around your calf muscles. It also helps promote the healing of damaged tissues during or after workout sessions.
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Muscles oscillation
Muscle oscillation is a vibration occurring in the calf muscles when your foot strikes the ground during walking or running. Wearing the best calf support or compression sleeves help reduce muscle oscillation. Calf strain may make your calf muscles more sensitive to most movements. You may feel pain even when you walk. Wearing a calf sleeve helps splint the injured area, reducing the vibration in the calf muscles. As well as this, they also help protect the calf muscles from further injuries.
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Keep calf muscles warm
Wearing compression sleeves helps keep your calf muscles warm during exercise and other workout activities. Warm muscles have improved blood flow and fewer chances of injury and fatigue. Calf sleeves may also benefit your training when you run in a colder climate or temperature. Wearing calf compression sleeves also helps prevent calf strain or calf re-injuries.
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Improve muscle sensation
Calf compression sleeves help improve your reflex and body senses while running or other workout activities. Improved reflex and sensation responses in your lower legs or calves help improve balance and posture, making you more stable on your feet. As well as this, it also makes you better at responding to abrupt changes in various settings. Being more stable in your movements helps you reduce the chances of injuries.
How to choose the best calf support or compression sleeves?
Calf compression sleeves or supports are different types according to their compression or support level, materials, and sizes. Depending on your situation, you need to wear compression sleeves to maximise the benefits.
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Compression level
Generally, the calf compression sleeves are designed with three different compression levels, including;
- Mild compression sleeves: Mild compression sleeves help improve certain medical conditions. For example, if you need to spend a long day at work or travel, you need to wear mild compression sleeves – they help you provide 15-25 mmHg compression.
- Moderate compression sleeves: Moderate compression sleeves provide your calf muscles with a 20-30 mmHg compressions level. This compression level helps improve proper blood circulation.
- High compression sleeves: These compression sleeves provide your legs or calves with a 25-40 mmHg compression level. This compression level is recommended for varicose veins and other circulatory issues.
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Size
When choosing the size of your compression sleeves, ensure that the calf sleeves are neither too tight nor too loose. Wearing too tight or loosely fitted compression sleeves can irritate your calves and may also cause other skin issues. Ensure that your calf sleeves are snug enough to provide needed compressions, helping prevent injuries and speed up the recovery process.
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Materials
Experts suggest wearing calf compression sleeves made up of nylon and Lycra or nylon and spandex. However, woollen compression sleeves are recommended to wear during the winter season. But remember that these can overheat your skin during the summer season. Moreover, breathable and sweat-kicking calf compression sleeves are considered best to support your calves during the workout.
How long should you wear calf support or compression sleeves?
If you want to wear compression socks to support your calf muscles and prevent calf injuries during sports and other workout activities, you can wear them throughout your session. On the other hand, if you want to wear compression sleeves to speed up the recovery process following calf injuries, you should wear them under your healthcare professionals’ instructions.
Is there any side effect of calf support or compression sleeves?
The primary purpose of calf compression sleeves is to provide your calf muscles with basic support. They also help prevent calf injuries and other skin problems. But remember that wearing the wrong type or size of calf compression sleeves can cause certain skin issues.
Buy the best calf compression sleeves
If you are a professional runner or involved in other athletic or workout activities, you need to wear the calf compression sleeves to reduce the chances of injuries. On the other hand, wearing compression sleeves helps reduce the pain and other symptoms if you are suffering from calf pain or injuries. 360 relief provides you with the best calf support or compression sleeves to help manage your calf problems.
