Compression Leg Sleeves
About three months ago I started to get some discomfort in my shins especially when I ran. I use the word discomfort because it never developed into anything really painful. The discomfort was something I have never had though. Wanting to know what was causing it I got on the Internet and did a little bit of research and after reading about it. I decided to self diagnos my discomfort as shin splints.
Compression Leg Sleeves
In my research on this I read that rest and compression leg sleeves are good to treat shin splints. So I decide to buy some compression leg sleeves. There are also compression sock that not only cover your feet but go all the way up to just below the knee joint. Originally compression socks were designed for those who have diabetes to help increase blood flow through their legs and to keep blood from pooling up in the bottom of their legs.
Logically it did not make sense that something that was designed to compress was to aid in blood circulation. It makes more sense to me that it would restrict blood flow. So I was a little skeptical. But I bought a pair of compression leg sleeves anyways, knowing that a lot of ultra runners said they really did help their shin splints.
When my compression leg sleeves finally came in the mail I decided that I would continue to not run, but rest my legs. I figure that this is a good time of year (Nov. and Dec.) to rest and not run. I don’t have any races planed until March or April. But even though I have been resting I still have had some discomfort in my shins and so I decide that I would wear my compression leg sleeves all day long for a week to see if they really would help my shin splints. Surprisingly the discomfort went away and I can now run my fingers down my shine bone without any pain or discomfort. So this compression thing worked!
I have not worn my compression sleeves running yet so I’m not sure how they will help me run or if they will help with leg fatigue. But I have read that after long training runs, runners have reported that they feel less leg fatigue especially the next day. So I’m kind of itching to get out and run just to try out my compression leg sleeves on a long training run.
Like you, I was skeptical at first, but when I started having shin splits while training for a 50K I went ahead and bought a pair just like the ones in your photo — and they worked! I wear mine after any run where my calves are fatigued, and sometimes I sleep in them. They really do seem to help.
Yeah, I really like them so far. I can’t wait to get out run with them. Maybe I should try sleeping with them too.
I look forward to hearing how you go running with the compression stockings. I have long had chronic shin splints and am going to talk with my physio about using compression garments when I start running again. If nothing else, they might protect my legs during my adventure races in 2013 when we will no doubt spend lots of time scrub-bashing to take shortcuts between checkpoints (it’s allowed in adventure racing
)
I think they really do help with shin splints. My guess is that depending on how bad shin splints can get they may not be the fix all solution. But for minor shin splints I think they make a big difference.