Best Value Compression Sleeves on Amazon for you to buy

NV-Compression Calf Sleeves

I have to admit this is something that I never considered wearing until the start of 2021.

Why you may ask,  that is down to having an injury to my calf I would say had been around on and off for about 10 months. We all ignore those little niggles that turn into something that we think is gone with 2 weeks rest.

For me this didn’t go away and in November hit me pretty good, even my sports physio thought it was a low grade tear of the muscle as treatment didn’t work as quick as normal. January seemed to be OK again, and then a little niggle appeared. Thats when I thought is there anything I can do to help.

So after figuring out that compression sleeves had a chance of supporting and keeping the muscles warm I did a little digging around. You have loads to choose from and a wide range in budget, do you go full sock or just the sleeves?

The research on compression garments outside of a medical context (i.e. for people with conditions that cause inflammation) is not conclusive, says Christian Barton, a clinical physiotherapist at La Trobe University.

“From a sports perspective, there’s lots of theories around why they might help, but none have been really well tested from a clinical trial perspective,” he says.

A 2016 review published in Sports Medicine found compression clothing led to “trivial” and “small” improvements in performance. Some factors which affect performance during running were unchanged by compression garments (such as the runner’s peak oxygen intake and blood lactate), and those that were (such as body temperature and “running economy” i.e. your heat exchange processes) were only improved to a small extent.

Looking at 32 small studies, this review found compression garments only had a “trivial” impact on times over a half-marathon, 10km, 5km and 400m sprint distance.

However, the review was more positive about the impact of compression garments on recovery, showing perceived reduced post-exercise pain, as well as small reductions in muscle damage and inflammation. A review published in the same journal the following year of 23 similarly small studies was also positive about the psychological benefit.

Locally, research conducted by the Australian Institute of Sport on Australian brand 2XU’s compression tights between 2013 and 2017 has been more positive, finding the compression gear resulted in an 18 per cent increase in blood flow and a 47 per cent reduction in reported muscle soreness, with time gains of up to 10.6 seconds over a 5km run. However, the research specifically on the brand’s “leg sleeves” was only undertaken on cyclists.

So with all the above I still did purchase a pair to see how things went.

To start I went with an Amazon recommended pair of the NV Compression which have worked great in being able to get out there again. Now Ive gone for a lighter thinner pair of Rockay to see the difference.

In all I think its more the fact of it being supportive of the muscles and keeping it warm on those colder winter days that I have found of benefit.

I will write a review of the NV against the Rockay Blaze once I have use the Blaze a few times