madcity girl

Over the last few years, compression socks have gained immense popularity among runners and triathletes. It took me a while to decipher the phenomenon. When I first saw several athletes sporting knee-high socks at Ironman Wisconsin two years ago, I thought it was just a strange and unfortunate fashion statement. Eventually, I learned that many runners and triathletes use compression socks to help speed recovery after strenuous workouts and also to optimize performance during races.

Obviously those are grandiose claims. And for a while, I was skeptical. You mean to tell me that you can just slip on a pair of knee-high, Brittany Spears-esque socks and suddenly you’re Chrissie Wellington? I think not. Yet there are many studies that suggest real and notable gains can be realized by wearing compression socks.  

So how do they work? According to CEP, a leading producer of compression socks, the goal of wearing the socks is to enhance blood circulation, which delivers more oxygen to the heart and improves the process of metabolizing lactic acid. Another article explains that compression socks use strong elastics to create significant pressure on the legs, ankles and feet. By compressing the surface veins, arteries, and muscles, the circulating blood is forced through narrower channels. The arterial pressure is increased, causing more blood to return to the heart and less blood to pool in the feet.

So far only a handful of studies have been conducted to test these claims. Results have been largely inconclusive; but on the whole, encouraging:

• According to a study conducted at Stellenbosch University,  athletes who wore compression socks after exercise showed a faster lactate recovery rate. The same study, however, showed no statistically significant improvements (oxygen consumption, heart rate, etc.)  for athletes who wore the socks during exercise.
• Another study at the University of Dresden showed that compression can increase arterial blood flow up to 40% during activity and 30% during recovery. As a result, athletes benefit from more oxygen and nutrients, gaining power, recovering more quickly, and improving performance.
• According to a study at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, runners using compression socks had 5% faster running times while using 6% less energy.

All of that medical/science mumbo jumbo seems to suggest to me that compression socks are at least worth a shot. When I raced at the Ironman World Championships this past October, many elite athletes wore compression socks during the race. I almost felt a little naked without them. The knee-high socks have always looked funny to me; but admittedly, the style has grown on me over time. As some of you know, I recently took on a new part-time job at a local triathlon shop (more on this later). This, of course, has sparked a new-found interest in trying and testing the latest rage in triathlon and running gear. Last week, I caved and purchased my first pair of compression socks. I tried them on after a long run last Sunday. They felt nice—the pressure seemed to soothe my weary legs. Even if the benefits are entirely psychological, I’ll take it.

Now let’s address the obvious question. You may be scratching your head at my color seelction. Certainly I’ve made it pretty clear in prior posts that I hate the color pink. Especially when it comes to athletic gear. But what can I say—there was something about this particular pair of compression socks that drew me in. They seemed different. special. They are not just pink (oh, no)—they are obnoxiously pink. And obnoxious pink I can do.