Compression socks - do they work?

Sock it to me wrote:

Mid-50s and running a half marathon in a few weeks. Strained my soleus and am coming back slowly--3 miles easy today. Would compression socks actually help minimize the risk of hurting myself again? I know, I know, I could post this question on the Runner's World forum while shopping for a fuel belt. but heck, Solinsky broke 27:00 wearing them--what was his main reason for them?

There are two kinds of compression socks: active and recovery.

The difference : active are tighter around the calves to supposedly reduce achiness by easing blood flow, recovery are tighter around the ankles and improve the blood flow back to the heart.

Compression socks do work for recovery but you would rather get these at the druggists. From what I know, it's a matter of believe for active socks. At best it's a substitute for a real time light massage but if they feel comfy they can't hurt.

I'd be glad to learn about some new scientific breakthrough.

Thanks for the feedback.

Sock it to me wrote:

Mid-50s and running a half marathon in a few weeks. Strained my soleus and am coming back slowly--3 miles easy today. Would compression socks actually help minimize the risk of hurting myself again? I know, I know, I could post this question on the Runner's World forum while shopping for a fuel belt. but heck, Solinsky broke 27:00 wearing them--what was his main reason for them?

I to was investigating this, as I have switched to training in tights/compression pants/skins but looked into compression socks. I began to dismiss this as hocus-pocus but recently saw a study done on elite triathletes and the conclusion was that they work but only the really expensive pairs that were as much as $79 for a pair.

The biggest benefit I've found from wearing compression socks is less muddy legs trail running and I think it's saved me from a few encounters with poison oak. Not sure about the rest of the benefits

Dead Nike Lunar Forever 2s wrote:

Sock it to me wrote:

Mid-50s and running a half marathon in a few weeks. Strained my soleus and am coming back slowly--3 miles easy today. Would compression socks actually help minimize the risk of hurting myself again? I know, I know, I could post this question on the Runner's World forum while shopping for a fuel belt. but heck, Solinsky broke 27:00 wearing them--what was his main reason for them?

I to was investigating this, as I have switched to training in tights/compression pants/skins but looked into compression socks. I began to dismiss this as hocus-pocus but recently saw a study done on elite triathletes and the conclusion was that they work but only the really expensive pairs that were as much as $79 for a pair.

I've found this RW article before asking you

...they've used medical socks (Jobst) during the recovery. "Active" compression socks are placebo until proven wrong.

I insist because the price is not relevant here.

No. According to LetsRun they are for shitting in

Dead Nike Lunar Forever 2s wrote: but recently saw a study done on elite triathletes and the conclusion was that they work but only the really expensive pairs that were as much as $79 for a pair.

Funded by the sock-maker, no doubt.

They probably do something for someone, somewhere.

pop_pop!_v2.2.1 wrote:

Dead Nike Lunar Forever 2s wrote: but recently saw a study done on elite triathletes and the conclusion was that they work but only the really expensive pairs that were as much as $79 for a pair.

Funded by the sock-maker, no doubt.

They probably do something for someone, somewhere.

Pop pop, it was a mag like runner's world, I just clicked the bottom link about two weeks ago as I was looking into supplements. It was a team of elite triathletes (I think), they tried on a dozen or more different brands. Some reckoned that one brand helped recovery for the next days training, another brand helped actual running performance some of the triathletes thought. They all ranged from $25-79 per pair for the recommended ones.

I'm in my 50's and started wearing them a few months ago. They helped clear up my Achilles tendonitis. When I wear them I feel like my calves are always warm and loose. I liked them so much, I bought several more pairs.

I could care less what others think about me wearing them.

Some people say they do others say they don't. If you think they will help you then they will it's all in the mind.

Yes but wearing sleeves before and after hard work outs is better. Think of it like massage, when would that kind of blood flow be most useful?

Sock it to me wrote:

Mid-50s and running a half marathon in a few weeks. Strained my soleus and am coming back slowly--3 miles easy today. Would compression socks actually help minimize the risk of hurting myself again? I know, I know, I could post this question on the Runner's World forum while shopping for a fuel belt. but heck, Solinsky broke 27:00 wearing them--what was his main reason for them?

Are you the old guy that said young women are attracted to you?

No

Fancy Bear XXY wrote:

Are you the old guy that said young women are attracted to you?

Thanks very much for the feedback everyone.

foo wrote:

I'm in my 50's and started wearing them a few months ago. They helped clear up my Achilles tendonitis. When I wear them I feel like my calves are always warm and loose. I liked them so much, I bought several more pairs.

I could care less what others think about me wearing them.

They will help with blood/lymph flow, but honestly they're better when you're not active. You can also get better ones from your PCP via Rx that will cost you less out of pocket.

Whatever floats your boat, but Solinsky was wearing them for one reason: ad dollars.

foo wrote:

I could care less what others think about me wearing them.

You are saying that you do care.

I recall reading that the benefit is that they reduce the crazy shaking/vibrating/pulsing of the calves upon impact (looks wicked in slo-mo), which normally is no big deal but over, say, a marathon, helps cumulative exhaustion. In other words, they help minimize extraneous muscle movement in long races.

Or something like that.

"shock," that is the word I was looking for. They may indirectly reduce impact shock and cumulative damage a small amount.

The science and studies are inconclusive re:performance gains (but socks are not *detrimental*); however, I note that most were on the 5k/10k distance, and as we all know, the marathon is a different animal... YMMV

I sleep in calf sleeves sometimes. It really helped clear up pttd ... Mainly cause I have insanely tight calves and have to self massage a lot. Heyyyy ohhhh