Valentin Bosioc
If you watch the sports channel, you will notice one thing; the athletes always wear compression sleeves either on their arms or legs. These sleeves are about more than just making a fashion statement. They are also great for people who are not into sports that much. One of the most important things we learn from a young age is injury prevention. Prevention is better than cure; we are constantly told. Therefore, when you engage in any form of physical activity, you need to protect your muscles from injuries like tearing. The sleeves resemble a tensor bandage in their elasticity. Therefore, when worn, they will hold firmly on your skin. Generally, the arm sleeve will fit somewhere over the elbow and end along the upper arm. So how do these sleeves work, and how do they help improve performance and resilience?
Support
One of the most fundamental benefits of the arm sleeve is that it supports the arm. During sports like tennis, basketball, badminton, etc., the arm goes through vigorous, repetitive movements that the body is not designed for. The arm, for instance, is not meant to be engaging in such tedious and demanding movements where it is stretched to a maximum every few seconds.
If you have played these games, you have surely felt the burn after the game is over. Most people still feel pain even weeks after playing these sports. Athletes have to train so they can be good enough for matches. So they are likely to suffer from tennis elbow and many other painful injuries. While most of these injuries come with the territory and are common, they are preventable. The arm sleeves help to prevent strains, sprains, and blowouts. The sleeve adds a bit more firmness to the ligaments and joints in the arm and thus supports the strained muscles. In the long run, you prevent trauma from whipping the arms back and forth.
Improves recovery time
When you’re playing any type of sport, there is a 60% chance that you will get injured. However, when an injury occurs and affects the most used part of the body, the healing process is slower. This is because it’s difficult to keep that part steady and free from movements. Once the body is hurt, it does not have the same resilience it had before it was injured. You, therefore, need to prevent re-injury because already-injured areas are more prone to strain. With a compression sleeve, you can easily restrict movements, and this prevents more injury on that part. The sleeve also helps to regulate blood flow and thus reduces inflammation and improves recovery time.
Putting pressure on an injury reduces the amount of pain you feel by reducing the number of neurons sent to the brain. In addition to healing faster, you will feel less pain.
It protects your skin
Of course, this is not the main purpose of buying a compression sleeve, but it can also protect your skin. It creates a boundary between the skin and the other environmental elements such as the sun. When playing sports outside, you are likely to be exposed to the sun. While sunburns are often not serious, they can be extremely painful. Other than using a good amount of sunscreen, a great way to prevent sunburn is to ensure that you are wearing a compression sleeve. It also keeps you from getting abrasions when you fall during the sport.
Helps control your body temperature
Studies show that compression sleeves can help you absorb more oxygen because they help increase blood circulation. The human body needs oxygen to produce energy and thus improves recovery after sports. As you work out, the bicep will gather more blood and thus improve the amount of energy that goes to every part of the body. It also reduces the amount of time oxygen-rich blood takes to go throughout the body.
Conclusion
With a compression sleeve, you are more likely to benefit from an athletes experience and still make a perfect fashion statement. If the sports and workouts you engage in cause your arms prone to injury, these sleeves are something you should consider seriously. If you suffer from arthritis, vigorous activity may make the condition worse. That is why you need to reduce your impact and inflammation.
