In the field of sports, muscle recovery is a fundamental aspect to maintain optimal performance and injury prevention. In this regard, sports compression therapy has gained popularity as an effective technique to accelerate muscle recovery, reduce blood acid levels, and improve sports performance. In this article, we will explore what sports compression therapy is, the benefits it offers for muscle recovery, how it can benefit high-performance athletes, and how to use it properly.
What is sports compression therapy?
Sports compression therapy is a non-invasive technique that uses special compression garments to apply controlled pressure to specific areas of the body. This sequential and gradual pressure stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems, promoting the drainage of fluids and toxins accumulated in the tissues. In this way, blood and lymphatic circulation is improved, which favors muscle recovery and the elimination of waste substances.
Benefits of compression therapy for muscle recovery in athletes
Sports compression therapy offers a series of benefits for muscle recovery in athletes. Some of these include:
- Improved circulation: The sequential pressure applied during compression therapy helps stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation, which favors the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, thus accelerating their recovery.
- Reduction of inflammation: Compression therapy helps reduce inflammation and edema in muscle tissues, which is especially beneficial after intense physical effort or a sports injury.
- Relief of muscle fatigue: By stimulating the circulatory and lymphatic systems, compression therapy helps eliminate waste products generated during physical activity, which helps relieve the sensation of muscle fatigue and speeds up recovery.
Compression therapy for high-performance athletes: what it offers
Sports compression therapy provides numerous benefits to high-performance athletes. Some of the most notable advantages are:
- Faster recovery: Compression therapy accelerates the muscle recovery process by improving circulation and eliminating metabolic waste products. This allows high-performance athletes to recover more quickly between training sessions and competitions, reducing the risk of accumulated fatigue and injuries.
- Injury prevention: By improving circulation and reducing inflammation, compression therapy helps prevent muscle and joint injuries in high-performance athletes. By keeping tissues in optimal condition, the likelihood of suffering trauma or micro-injuries is reduced.
- Improved sports performance: The combination of faster muscle recovery, reduced fatigue, and injury prevention contributes to improved sports performance in high-performance athletes. By allowing optimal recovery between training and competitions, compression therapy gives them the ability to train more intensely and consistently, resulting in better athletic performance.
Alberto Losada regularly uses compression therapy for recovery
With the help of Alberto Losada, former professional cyclist, we will give you a series of tips and advice on how to use sports compression therapy that will be very helpful. This way, you can get the most out of your Sizen 6+. In this way, you will perform a complete recovery and be ready for the next demanding day of interval training or competition.
Any elite athlete knows the importance of recovery. When we are recovering, our muscles rebuild the fibers broken by effort. It is through this breakage that the body repairs them… they grow, become stronger, and more resistant. This is where the importance of how to use sports compression therapy lies, to get the best out of yourself when you are not training.
Discover how to use sports compression therapy effectively!
By following these simple guidelines, we will have the correct information on how to use sports compression therapy properly… Let’s get started!
What is the best recovery program for athletes?
We would use program no. 4 as the usual one for a standard recovery, in which we have not worked at 100% of our capacity. After a hard day of training where we have worked very hard, a stronger release is needed. In those cases, the ideal is number 3.
What happens if you are not an athlete?
All programs are suitable for everyone, but the most recommended, for example, when we have spent a lot of time standing and have very swollen legs, would be number 2. This type of massage is also perfect after a plane trip. Usually, due to cabin pressure, we suffer a lot from fluid retention. When you are an athlete, you cannot afford for a plane trip to reduce your performance, especially if the next day you have to return to your routine.
Is it recommended to use compression therapy before training?
Before training, we should NOT use it in the same way; we should not do “normal” sessions but rather about 15-20 minutes at a much more moderate pressure, not with the intention of muscle recovery or “pushing” the muscle, but with the intention of oxygenating and preparing it for the work that will come later.
How long should a session last?
We should dedicate approximately 40 minutes, applying the program we want depending on the workload performed. Take advantage of that time to read, watch a series, or simply relax! Enjoy your Sizen moment!
Also, the Sizen 6+ due to its small size and more than 6 hours of battery life allows us to enjoy many sessions without the annoying cables in the way.
About 2 hours after training is the ideal time to perform compression therapy treatment
When should we perform the treatment?
We should wait approximately 2 to 3 hours after exercising. This way, we give the body time to return to its normal state and be ready for recovery.
If you trained in the afternoon, after a proper dinner or also before going to sleep can be a good time; that way, we will be relaxed, recovered, and add nighttime rest to our recovery.
What pressure should be applied?
This depends a bit on personal preference and the thickness of your legs, but it could range between 120 and 180 mmHg of pressure. We remind you that the Sizen 6+ can reach up to 240 mmHg. So there is enough pressure to reach wherever you want.
Now all that’s left is to enjoy your recovery with professional sports and aesthetic compression therapy at home with Sizen. On our blog, you will find all the information you need to improve your performance. You can also call us or send a WhatsApp to 617 806 923. Welcome to Sizen!
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