Types of Compression Sleeves and How They Help

Compression sleeves are an essential piece of compression wear and provide many benefits, including improved circulation and better performance in the gym or on the field. If you aren’t familiar with compression wear, it is an article of tight-fitting clothing that compresses the muscles to improve circulation throughout the body.

By increasing blood flow, these sleeves can help prevent injuries while improving your workouts or training sessions.

Types of Compression Sleeves

The different forms of compression sleeves are almost endless, but we might need a different style or material depending on the use. Before I dive into this topic, I’d like to explain what compression sleeves are.

A compression sleeve is a medical device used to help limit swelling and support weak or injured muscles and joints. The two main ingredients are elastic fibers and non-elastic fibers. Elastic fibers make it possible for the garment to elongate or stretch at various degrees.

Non-elastic fibers are typically made of polyester, nylon, or spandex, and they offer support by providing pressure. This pressure helps blood flow and the overall health of the muscle.

• Gloves
  Gloves are compression sleeves made of latex and consist of a single piece. They are meant to be worn on the upper body, but they can also be used on the lower body if your doctor approves it. The gloves should fit snugly around the limb and can be worn alone or in combination with other types of compression sleeves. Gloves are typically used for lower extremity edema (swelling), venous insufficiency, lymphedema, and venous stasis ulcers. They can also be used for patients who have had surgery or other injuries that require temporary immobilization of the area being treated.
• Upper Arm To Hand
  This compression sleeve is designed to fit from your upper arm down to your hand. It is an excellent option for people with problems in their arms and hands, as it helps to relieve pain and swelling. It also helps stabilize your joints, reducing pain and improving functionality.
• Upper Arm To Wrist
  The upper arm to wrist sleeve is a compression sleeve that goes from the top of your arm to your wrist. It is ideal for those who need more support than just the forearm sleeve. This sleeve type provides extra support for the elbow and upper arm muscles, which are especially important for athletes who engage in baseball, football, soccer, and golf.
• Bilateral Or Dual-Arm
  Bilateral compression sleeves are the most common type of compression sleeve. They have a tight fit with a hard, plastic outer shell and an elastic inner layer. The sleeves are available in various sizes, and you can choose whether you want one or two arms covered by a single sleeve. Dual-arm sleeves cover both arms and are usually used by people who regularly work out or play sports. These sleeves come in three different levels of compression: light (20-30 mmHg), medium (30-40 mmHg), and heavy (40-50 mmHg). If you’re looking for something more versatile, consider buying a pair of bilateral sleeves and attaching them with Velcro tabs to create your dual-arm sleeve.
• Ankle Compression Sleeves
  Ankle compression sleeves are designed to help you recover from injuries. They can also be used if you have a condition that causes swelling in your ankles, like chronic venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis.
  They’re made of a lightweight, breathable and flexible material, so you don’t have to worry about them feeling restrictive or constricting. The material is also designed to provide warmth so that it helps with blood flow and prevents injuries from reoccurring. Ankle compression sleeves are also great for athletes who want to improve their performance and prevent injuries while training and competing.
• Knee Compression Sleeves
  Knee compression sleeves are designed to help with the pain and swelling in and around your knee. They’re made from a spandex-like material, which is stretchy and has lots of giving to move around freely and comfortably. They work by applying pressure to your knee, which helps increase circulation throughout your body. This helps prevent blood clots from forming in your legs and moving up into your heart.

Benefits of Compression Sleeves

Compression sleeves have gained popularity amongst athletes, not only for their appearance but also for their ability to the muscle tissue and relieve chronic pain. Compression sleeves have many benefits, including:

1. Improve Lymphatic Drainage
   Compression sleeves help improve lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling. Lymphatic fluid helps transport nutrients throughout the body, but when it’s backed up, it can cause swelling in the legs and arms. Compression sleeves help boost circulation by applying pressure around the body, which forces blood to flow more easily through your veins and arteries. This means less fluid buildup in your extremities, leading to minor swelling.
2. Decrease Pain And Inflammation
   If you’re looking for relief from pain and inflammation, look no further than our compression sleeves. Sleeves provide consistent pressure that helps increase blood flow, which can be especially helpful when recovering from an injury or surgery. The increased blood flow also allows you to heal faster, meaning you’ll get back to your regular activities sooner.
3. Prevention Of Swelling And Inflammation
   Compression sleeves are a great way to prevent swelling and inflammation. If you’re working out or participating in an activity that can cause your arms to swell or become inflamed, compression sleeves can help keep that from happening. They can also reduce pain and swelling after an injury, so they might be an excellent option if you’ve got a pulled muscle or something similar.
4. Reverse Venous Hypertension
   When you’re working out, your body produces more blood than it needs, and your veins have to work hard to pump it back up. This places a lot of stress on your veins and can cause them to bulge. Compression sleeves help reduce the amount of pressure in your veins by compressing them and pushing the blood back up towards the heart.
5. More Efficient Recovery.
   When you’re done with your workout, you want to be able to recover as quickly as possible so that you can get back in the gym and crush it again. That’s where compression sleeves come in. They help your muscles recover faster by increasing blood flow and speeding up muscle recovery time.
6. Reduced Injury Risk
   Compression sleeves are a great way to reduce the risk of injury. During your workout, they help prevent swelling and inflammation, leading to pain and stiffness. They also help with blood flow and circulation, getting more oxygenated blood flowing through your body. This can help you perform better and recover faster between sets or workouts.

The above list of compression sleeve types is just some of the more popular and available options. There are many benefits to wearing compression sleeves after a workout, a race, or to help increase circulation and speed recovery time. If you want to get the most benefits from your compression sleeves, choose the right type for you and your activity level.