Listener Maurine recently asked me about compression gear on Twitter. This is what she said: “I’d be interested in learning more about leg compression recovery systems. I’ve got lots of compression socks and pants. I’m looking more at machines.” Well, Maurine, today I am going to go through both!
What is Compression Clothing?
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Compression garments are often marketed as a type of magical second skin that is going to improve your athleticism. When reading the ads you might believe that by simply tossing on a pair of tight pants or socks you are going to be able to run faster, jump higher, and lift heavier. But it is not really like that.
For one, compression gear doesn’t provide enough support to make your muscles perform any different than normal. Despite what it feels like, that invincible feeling you get from sliding on those hardcore looking socks is mostly in your head. Your muscles may feel more supported, but that support is minimal. We’ll get into that later.
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
Thank you,
Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American
