Should you wear compression clothing after exercise?

Power. Performance. Recovery. Here at CRX, these are the parts of your play that you value the most- which is why we value them too. In order to make the most of these crucial elements, compression is key. It’s important to understand when you should wear compression clothing. 

With some athletes sporting compression clothing before their play, some during and some after - it can be hard to know what’s right for you. When you wear compression clothing depends on your sport, the area you’re compressing but also your level. For instance, as endurance runners or sprinters know, the enormous benefits of compression means they might be seen to compress both during and after a run. 

Here at CRX, we know that recovery is the most important part of your workout. Our physiotherapists and movement experts work closely with our athletes and performance advisors to follow the latest scientific advancements in compression - which is why we’ll always provide you with high-quality compression products for post-workout compression. 

What are the benefits of compression after exercising? 

Compression after exercise is one of the most important steps to boosting your recovery - something any athlete is always looking to improve. Recovery from pushing yourself to your max can be slow and painful - keeping you out of the game for longer. Every second spent in recovery is a second not working - risking a missed opportunity to improve. 

When you wear compression after your workout, studies have shown that the post-workout impacts on your body (muscular fatigue, DOMS, and lactic acid buildup) are greatly reduced. This works by improving the active oxygenated blood flow around the body from the heart, increasing in the area of compression - removing lactic acid as a byproduct of exercise. Minimise inflammation, reduce pain, and recover faster. Simple.  

For instance, one study reported that active men reported a reduction in DOMS for 24 hours post-exercise (10k running trials) when they wore compression socks, in comparison to wearing non-compression sports socks. In a similar trial of sportspeople wearing compression socks during recovery compared to normal elasticated socks revealed that blood lactate levels after the test were lower with compression socks. The removal of lactic acid from muscles after exercise is a key factor in reducing pain, soreness and inflammation - and this proven efficacy means compression is a sure-fire way to do that. 

The benefits of compressing after exercising are impossible to deny. These, and other studies, explore how using compression garments past a challenging workout improves recovery time by infusing muscles with nutrient-rich blood, removing waste products, and minimising inflammation. 

How should you compress after exercising? 

Compressing after exercising is simple - simply slip on your compression garments within a 3-4 hour time period following a strenuous workout. For best results, it’s important to compress clean, dry skin - but make sure to research how compression is best used for your specific sport. Compression for running, for example, will differ to compression after weightlifting - so it’s vital to make sure you’re getting the right kind of recovery. 

CRX compression wear is designed to boost your speed, shave seconds off your time, and let you go further than you ever have before. Thanks to our graduated compression panels and seams, we put the pressure on when and where you need it most - post-workout today for a powerful punch tomorrow. 

The CRX compression range has everything from tight compression tops, perfect for weightlifters, to seamless compression leggings and socks, ideal for runners - along with calf sleeves, compression shorts, and everything in between. Want more information? Check out The Science Behind Compression for more on how, why, and when we compress. 

Compress. Compete. Recover.