There are various occasions when people wear compression socks – for travel, athletics and medical conditions, for instance. We’re going to look at how sports compression socks benefit athletes both on the playing field and during travel to and from games.

How Sports Compression Socks Help Athletes on the Field

1. Improved Venous Return

Venous return is a medical term that refers to the movement of blood back to the heart. During athletic performance, venous return is crucial because this is how blood is cycled through the body and how it picks up fresh nutrients, including oxygen. Poor venous return will drag down an athlete, in other words. Studies have discovered that sport compression stockings, among others, increase venous return by sending more blood through deeper veins via compression of the more superficial veins. This makes sense, since the body naturally uses compression of muscles to combat gravity during venous return.

2. Faster Removal of Waste from Tired Muscles

CEP running or Sigvaris sport compression socks also help flush waste out of muscles during exercise by improving overall circulation. Lactic acid is also flushed out with increased circulation, which leads to faster recovery and less time feeling sore.

3. Boosted Muscle Stamina

Many athletes choose to wear CEP running or Sigvaris sport compression socks during especially long workouts, for several reasons. First, sports compression socks help battle delayed onset muscle soreness. Second, many active types have found they can run, bike or walk longer while wearing compression socks. The calf muscles are especially likely to enjoy extended performance thanks to compression socks.

How Sports Compression Socks Help Athletes during Travel

It’s not unusual for dedicated athletes to wear sports compression socks during games or other workouts, but fewer athletes know that it’s also beneficial to wear compression socks for travel. Athletes must travel regularly to access games and other athletic events. During long flights, the seated position puts more pressure on leg veins, thereby reducing venous return and causing inflammation. Travel compression socks encourage circulation, thereby reducing swelling.

Another important benefit of wearing travel compression socks has to do with a potentially deadly disease, deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Athletes and other passengers may experience DVT after sitting during extended flights. Indeed, a nickname for DVT is “economy-class syndrome,” in reference to the cramped position of many airline seats. Really, any extended period of immobility puts a person at risk of experiencing DVT.

Since DVT usually occurs in the calves and thighs, one warning sign that it may be occurring is pain deep in the leg muscles. However, DVT is too often a silent killer – and indeed, it can kill. Many people became aware of the deadliness of this disorder in 2003, after NBC reporter David Bloom died of pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs), a complication of DVT; Bloom had been reporting from very cramped conditions inside military vehicles in Iraq. In addition to cutting off blood flow to the lungs, the blood clot or thrombus in a DVT case can travel to the brain and cause a stroke, or to the heart, where it can cause a heart attack. Travel compression socks prevent DVT by boosting circulation.

Athletes must be especially vigilant about DVT, since according to AirHealth.org, 85 percent of air travel DVT victims are athletes; endurance athletes are especially at risk. Prevent DVT by flexing your legs every 15 minutes during flights, and by wearing sports compression socks for travel.

If you’re looking for a high-quality product to improve your sports performance and increase circulation during travel, choose CEP running or Sigvaris sport socks. These make excellent compression socks for travel and exercise alike.

Holiday travel can be stressful and uncomfortable. However, there is one element you can take control of: your swollen feet and legs.

Travel by car, train or air subjects us to forced periods of inactivity, which can lead to fluid pooling in our feet and ankles. This not only makes sitting more uncomfortable than it needs to be, but it can pose health hazards, as well. Travel compression socks can make your holiday travels easier and less tiring by:

Increasing circulation.

Circulation is adversely affected not only by long periods of sitting or standing in one place, but also by the pressurized cabins of airplanes. Air travel compression socks offer low, graduated compression to help travelers keep their blood flowing and decrease swelling in the legs and feet. A higher level of compression is even more beneficial for pregnant moms or those who have certain health problems.

Preventing aching muscles.

When you have to run to catch a connection, travel compression socks help by keeping your muscles loose and preventing soreness after intense periods of activity.

Safer driving.

Long drives lead to sleepy drivers, and travel compression socks are a great way to help you keep your legs and feet supported during your shift at the wheel.

If you have never tried compression socks for travel, now is a good time to give them a test drive. You might be surprised at how much easier all forms of travel are when you don’t have to worry about swelling in your legs and feet, leaving you with more energy for standing in long lines at the airport.

Have a safe and happy holiday travel season!

(From left to right, the Mediven Motion Sport 16-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg.)

Features

The Motion Sport is a very forward thinking compression sock. Effectively utilizing synthetic materials and fibers, the Motion Sport is able to manage heat and moisture better than most other cotton sport socks or nylon dress socks. Clima-Comfort fiber technology is used to draw perspiration away from the skin and the soft, plush material on the leg and padded sole gives a luxurious feeling. There is also a ribbed texture on the sock, which stretches out when worn on the leg, providing a cooling effect to relieve excess heat and moisture. The Motion Sport is available in both the 16-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg levels of compression and comes in five sizes so almost anyone can enjoy the benefits the Motion Sport has to offer.

Durability

Mediven’s Motion Sport compression socks are very durable. Made of mostly Polamid and Elasthan, Motion Sport isn’t as fragile as other synthetic dress socks therefore, with its thicker more plush construction, the Motion Sport holds up better to washing and wearing than other dress socks. So you’re covered when you’re playing a sport or walking long distances in airports.

Wearability

The plushy material and cushioned sole wears great on any leg and the cool and comfortable material wicks away moisture, feeling like cotton during sport, travel and daily wear. The Motion Sport is extremely easy to wear, care for and it’s comfortable on your legs and feet no matter what you’re doing. Mediven has made an incredible compression sock.

The Verdict

4.5 Stars – Awesome!

Superb – The Mediven Motion Sport utilizes the Clima-Comfort fibers to ensure cool and comfy feet and legs.

Luxurious – The plush, ribbed design looks great on the leg and feels even better for the person wearing it.

Versatile – Not only is the Motion Sport good for sports, it’s also often worn as a dress sock.