Do Compression Sleeves Help Compartment Syndrome?

Using compression sleeves is a way to reduce pressure and temperature in athletes. Basically, this helps to remove the moisture present in the skin. The main idea behind this gear is to help athletes curb energy loss.

So, do compression sleeves help compartment syndrome? Although this tool proves to be quite efficient for what it does, it isn’t a good solution for compartment syndrome. The major reason for this is that compression syndrome occurs due to numbed and swollen muscles. Therefore, you might need to use a medical approach to tackle the problem.

As you continue in this article, you will discover more information about these compression sleeves and compartment syndrome. What’s more, we’ve discussed some helpful benefits of this gear, how to fix compartment syndrome without surgery, etc. So, keep reading for more information.

Key Points:

• Compression sleeves or socks are special materials designed to fit snugly around the legs and arms. Some special areas to wear these gears include elbows, calves, ankles, or knees.
• Some of the most prominent benefits of using compression sleeves include better blood circulation and regulated body temperature. More to these are UV sun rays protection, loosed & warm muscles, and quicker muscle recovery & injury healing.
• The nonsurgical approach to compartment syndrome begins with desisting from what resulted in the problem. Afterward, you’ll need to follow your doctor’s pain relief drugs prescription. Other measures may include physical therapy, massage, etc.
• Compression sleeves are efficient for some health-related problems, but they’re not an ideal option for compartment syndrome.

What Is Compression Sleeves?

Compression sleeves or socks are special materials designed to fit snugly around the legs and arms. Some special areas to wear these gears include elbows, calves, ankles, or knees. They’re best for athletes who wish to aid blood flow during and after sports sessions.

To wear one of these materials, simply drag it over your skin as you would with gloves or your pair of socks. Although they may appear like socks, they focus on facilitating blood movement throughout the body to the heart.

Usually, the body generates moisture and heat when it engages actively in sports. The moisture is responsible for transferring the heat throughout the body during this process. This is where the compression sleeves come into play. They function basically by taking away the moisture present in the skin. As a result, the body’s temperature drops gradually. This helps the athlete to save energy during sports sessions.

Furthermore, athletes employ these compression sleeves to aid the recovery process of the muscles from past activities. Often, it may take a long period for the muscles to recover fully. But you can change all that by using one of these gears.

In addition, compression sleeves can quicken the healing process of an injury. How does this happen? Typically, injuries heal with time as blood flows properly throughout the body. Since these gears function by accelerating blood circulation to the heart, this, in turn, quickens the healing process of injuries. You can also support it with running shoes for compartment syndrome. They also work fine for athletes, and giving them a try will prove a lot.

What Are The Benefits Of Compression Sleeves?

Some of the most prominent benefits of using compression sleeves include better blood circulation and regulated body temperature. More to these are UV sun rays protection, loosed & warm muscles, and quicker muscle recovery & injury healing. You can find more benefits in your experience with compression sleeves. However, these benefits remain the most notable ones on the list. Let’s address these advantages in more detail.

1. Better Blood Circulation

Injuries in athletes usually lead an interrupted blood circulation, especially around the affected area. Compression sleeves function by properly circulating blood movement to the muscles surrounding the injury. This reduces the chances of swelling and inflammation, thereby speeding up the recovery period.

2. Regulated Body Temperature

Compression sleeves also function by regulating your body’s temperature when you engage in physical exercises. Whether or not the weather outside is cold, using these gears helps you maintain a regular body temperature.

3. Ultraviolet Sun Rays Protection

Often, it can be quite pleasurable to stand on the field or ride a bike, even in the sun. However, you should know that the effect of the sun’s heat on you can also be detrimental to your skin. The effect may not be glaring at the moment, but it surely with time. There are records of skin cancer occurring due to the UV rays that come from the sun. As a result, it remains very crucial to provide enough protection for your skin.

This is where the sleeves become important. To stay protected from these rays and reduce the risk of skin cancer, always use compression sleeves. They work quite efficiently whether you’re on a football pitch or taking a bike ride along the street.

4. Loosed & Warm Muscles

In your attempt to get one of these compression sleeves, let your choice be based on compression fit design. The sleeves should not be too tight to keep the muscles free and relaxed. In this state, you can perform your sports actions without any fear of cramps, which affects performance. Also, such sleeves provide warmth for the muscles. This can be very helpful, especially during cold evenings or nights on the field.

5. Quicker Muscles Recovery & Injury Healing Process

Using compression sleeves aids the recovery process of the muscles after previous sports sessions. Sometimes, it takes so long for muscles to recover after a game. However, with the help of these sleeves, it’s feasible to speed up the muscle recovery process. Furthermore, as blood circulates faster throughout the body, injuries tend to heal faster. This is another area where compression sleeves benefit users.

These and more are the advantages of using one of these gears while you’re on the field. They’re a way of sustaining good health, and having one of them will be a plus to your game.

Do Compression Sleeves Help Compartment Syndrome?

Compression sleeves are efficient for some health-related problems, but they’re not an ideal option for compartment syndrome. One major reason is that virtually all compartment syndrome issues are connected to swollen and numbed muscles. Whether or not it’s chronic or acute, the best medical approach would be an immediate surgery.

Although these sleeves may not tackle compartment syndrome with enough accuracy, they’ve proven helpful to most athletes. Other beneficiaries may include gymnasts. The main idea behind compression socks is to promote blood flow. As this happens, it prevents the tendency for swelling and pain in the muscles and the clotting of blood.

It’s rather unfortunate that most athletes and gymnasts consider these compression sleeves as a remedy to compartment syndrome. Among the several benefits you can get from these socks, the compartment-syndrome solution isn’t one of them. So, we’ll take you through the characteristics of these sleeves for you to know what to expect of them.

The Effectiveness of a Compression Sleeve

In terms of providing safety to the legs of athletes and gymnasts, compression sleeves can be trusted. It’s designed to protect them from the many hitches that come from injuries in the leg. Users also benefit from the comfort they provide to their feet. The sleeves allow more oxygen to flow into the feet’s bloodstream.

Here are some notable characteristics of compressive sleeves you should be aware of.

Maintains Cleanliness

Given that the compression sleeves shield most parts of the leg, it’s just appropriate to say that they’re a way to maintain cleanliness. When you walk outside in muddy or dusty areas, you can depend on these socks for protection.

Aids Better performance

The extent to which an athlete’s muscles work depends on the amount of oxygen the heart deposits into the muscles. This means that the muscles function concerning the supply of oxygen to them. Another thing you can expect from these socks is that they provide good support for your straps. This helps to lessen the chances of vibrations during sports sessions. The player can go on and on for a longer period and better performance.

Provides Protection

The protection feature of these compression sleeves hails from their material. While they look like regular socks and sleeves, the thin synthetic fabric makes a major difference. This material is the main reason for the protection the sleeves offer. It helps athletes get better blood circulation to their feet. Also, the gears protect against abrasion and scrapes that could occur in the legs. In addition, these sleeves give users the cushioning they need to move comfortably during a workout.

Reduces Chances of Swellings

One common occurrence during a play or workout is swelling in the legs. This usually happens when the leg tissues develop too much fluid due to a long period of constant sweating. The effects of this are pain, discomfort, stiffness, and swelling. However, by using these sleeves, you can be sure to prevent the chances of such issues.

Is It Ok To Wear A Compression Sleeve All Day?

It’s ok to use a compression sleeve all day if:

This depends on the specific needs of the individual. Wearing a compression sleeve is necessary only when the need arises. The idea is to provide support for the knees, ankles, etc. So, if you’re not going to be on the field, standing, or sitting all day, then you wouldn’t have to wear a compression sleeve all-day. However, if your condition requires that you do, then using one of these gears would be ok.

• Your blood circulation is poor
• You work in a place where you have to stand or sit all-day
• You have soreness or pain in your hands or legs, etc.

Wearing a compression sleeve all day creates a restriction of movements. Also, the chances are that the knee joint could develop certain hitches if these compression sleeves are worn around them for too long. So, make sure to have a good reason if you’d want to use this gear for a long time.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Compression Sleeves?

Some notable side effects of using a compression sleeve include skin breakage, damaged peripheral nerve, risk of ischemia, etc.

If you already have prescribed compression sleeves from your health provider, always observe your legs for possible changes. If you begin to notice any changes, it could mean a number of things such as:

• Allergy to the particular compression sleeves
• Wrong fitting of the compression socks
• The presence of an infection
• Improper wearing or pulling off of the sleeves

Make sure to get the right prescription from your doctor. Also, ensure that you’re not misusing the socks. Let’s consider some of the side effects of using a compression sleeve.

• Risk of Ischemia: Drawing from a 2014 Canadian Medical Association Journal article, users are likely to face a risk of ischemia when there is a partial flow of the arteries due to a compression sleeve.
• Skin Breakage: A 2014 report states that wearing a compression sock wrongly could result in certain skin problems like skin breakage.
• Damaged Peripheral Nerve: As stated by a 2007 study, misusing compression sleeves could damage peripheral nerves.

In summary, how you use your compression sleeve determines the result you get from it. You should not underestimate getting the proper prescription from your doctor.

How Do You Fix Compartment Syndrome Without Surgery?

The nonsurgical approach to compartment syndrome begins with desisting from what resulted in the problem. Afterward, you’ll need to follow your doctor’s pain relief drugs prescription. Other measures may include physical therapy, massage, etc.

Moreover, the treatment plan for compartment syndrome is based on the type of syndrome. There are two types of compartment syndrome, which are acute and chronic syndrome.

1. Acute Compartment Syndrome

Usually, pain is the simplest sign to indicate the presence of acute compartment syndrome. This happens when there is a muscle stretch around the affected area. Other signs may include:

• Full or tight muscles
• Increased pain when you engage the muscles within the area
• The feeling of paralysis or numbness around the affected portion of the body
• Paresthesia is the ultimate sign of an acute compartment syndrome

This type of compartment syndrome must be treated with surgery. There hasn’t been any nonsurgical method that can fix it for good.

2. Chronic or Exertional Compartment Syndrome

When it comes to chronic compartment syndrome, patients only feel the pain or cramp when they engage in exercises. Moreover, most patients experience such pains around the leg region.

Some symptoms attached to this syndrome type include muscles bulging out of the skin, foot movement difficulty, and numbness. Thankfully, this type of compartment syndrome can get better through nonsurgical and surgical means. So, if you opt for the former, you stand a chance of ridding yourself of the condition.

Bottom Line

Do compression sleeves help compartment syndrome? Generally speaking, compression sleeves are useful for certain health challenges. However, these sleeves struggle to deliver solutions when it has to do with compartment syndrome.

To tackle this health challenge, it’s best to discuss an ideal treatment plan with your doctor. Such a treatment plan could involve taking some painkillers, physical therapy, or massage sessions. In a more severe case, patients may need to undergo surgery for better recovery.