5 Ways Compression Socks Help You Recover Better

By Kelsey Chernak, Sockwell Marketing Manager and Former Division I Collegiate Athlete

 

Beep beep beep. It’s your 5 AM wake-up call.
 
*Immediately regrets that last rep*
 
Soreness is a bittersweet feeling. The muscle aches and stiffness make walking up a flight of stairs seem impossible. On the other hand, you feel instant gratification for all the hard work you put in during your workout.

 

As a former five-year Division I collegiate athlete, I know firsthand what it’s like to wake up and feel the intense discomfort of trying to walk down the stairs...or even just sit down in a chair. I also know firsthand that being sore is never an excuse for poor performance, whether it’s in the gym or on the field.

 

During my time as a student athlete, there were moments in my training plan that enabled proper recovery times. I also experienced moments of intense fatigue and soreness with little rest in the peaks of my seasons. There was even a period of time when I was super “lucky” to have plantar fasciitis in not just one but both of my feet. Sure, staying off my feet to recover sounds like a great solution, but that just wasn’t an option.

 

I had a team counting on me. And I was counting on my feet.

 

If there’s one thing I learned throughout my collegiate athletic career, it’s that rest and recovery are essential to longevity and performing your best. That means staying hydrated, proper nutrition, stretching, and of course ice, ice, baby—the legendary ice bath offers incredible recovery benefits.

 

But if I could give you one of my favorite tips for recovery, it would be to wear compression socks during and after exercise.

 

If you don’t want to take my word for it, you can ask the thousands of other athletes who make compression socks a regular part of their performance and recovery plan. So, calling all athletes, trainers, and workout enthusiasts: Sockwell has engineered a whole collection of compression socks just for you. Get to know our Sport Compression socks and learn about their awesome recovery benefits.

 

 

 

Four Zones of Graduated Compression

Graduated compression is a complex way of saying that the sock holds the greatest compression at the foot and lessens as you move up toward the calf. This promotes increased blood flow, which helps your muscles relax and encourages blood to move toward your heart to re-oxygenate. In athletes’ terms, this means more energy for longer and better workouts—and better recovery on those cherished rest days!

 

Reduced Muscle Fatigue and Soreness

Compression socks are the ideal companion during those moments after a vicious workout when your legs shake with each step. We all know the ones that I’m talking about here. The graduated compression stabilizes muscles and supplies more oxygen for a faster and better recovery post-workout.

 

Minimized Swelling

Because graduated compression socks promote constant blood flow, it’s more difficult for blood to pool in the foot. Less pooling means less swelling. Less swelling means your feet will spend less time on the ottoman and more time preparing for your next workout.

 

Support and Revitalization

Athletes of all levels need to feel confident that their gear will support them. Our Sport Compression socks are made with arch, heel, and Achilles support, so you can perform your best while your feet feel comfortable—and help prevent overuse injuries.

 

Overall Comfort

Our Sport Compression socks are made with fine merino wool and high-performance yarns to keep your feet and shoes dry. Did you know that wool maintains a comfortable temperature while limiting blisters and odors inside your shoes? That’s right—together, we can freshen up the sweaty smell in the locker room.

Shop our Sport Compression collection, featuring new designs and colors for spring.