When it comes to workout and exercise, most people would have more reasons to delay or back out than go for it at once. You may have already invested in gear, equipment, and props.
I get that. One look into my home, and people would find it hard to believe I am not a health buff. I am, at rare times, when my body wins over my mind.
According to the 2019-2020 National Population Health Survey, there was a rising prevalence of lower physical activity among Singapore residents at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to more occurrences of higher body mass index (BMI), hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.
It’s time to break free from the unhealthy data by exercising. If the body won’t bulge, coax it with props and pretty outfits.
Speaking of which, have you ever heard about compression leggings? They are not your regular daily wear leggings; they were meant for workout and physical activities.
These compression tights will make you look forward to your strength training or any activities meant for health and wellness.
What are compression leggings, and are they worth the hype? Are they as super breathable as they claim to be? Will they regulate your blood flow and make you experience delayed onset muscle soreness?
Let us find out more about compression leggings, what they are and what they are for. Tag along, and together, we will all journey to the better versions of ourselves.
What Are Compression Tights?
The development of compression tights or compression leggings was inspired by compression socks, primarily designed to win over varicose veins. Compression leggings offer more health benefits than socks.
Unlike regular tights, compression leggings provide a second skin fit that feels too comfortable with their moisture wicking fabric and adjustable drawstring. These compression leggings are the in thing nowadays, with famous personalities, including The Rock, using them when practicing yoga.
Compression leggings and other compression garments, such as socks, sleeves, and compression shorts, increase blood flow during the workout. They help the body recover faster from soreness and tiredness.
If you are still waiting for a sign to get your body into a physically active mood, wear compression leggings and start hearing the outdoor voices encouraging you to sprint, walk, or run.
How Do Compression Garments Work in Boosting Blood Flow? – And Other Benefits for Health and Wellness
Compression leggings improve blood flow of the key muscles in the legs by applying light compression or gentle pressure. These compression garments work on the key muscle groups resulting in better blood circulation.
Compression leggings cover your legs, from the waist to your ankles. They make great training tights because, unlike regular leggings, they fit snuggly to your legs to provide the best compression.
You can wear compression leggings during a workout. This is what athletes do to boost their performance during the game or while training for a competition.
For example, basketball players wear the best compression leggings during the game to help them give their maximum performance.
The top Pilates studio Tampines also recommends that their practitioners wear compression leggings made from sweat wicking fabric to help them hold difficult poses longer.
Aside from athletes and people who are engaged in physical activities, compression leggings are also suited for those whose jobs require them to stand or sit for a long time during the day.
The improved blood circulation you experience when you wear compression garments will help relieve muscle fatigue, speed up muscle recovery, reduce soreness and muscle damage, and reduce swelling.
The best compression leggings will also help improve swelling in the ankle area and throughout your legs. You only have to make sure that you wear compression leggings in the right sizes and fit your body type, especially in the leg area.
The Best Compression Leggings – Pricey but Suitable for Physical Routines
One thing you must be prepared for is that compression leggings aren’t cheap, especially if you want the best compression leggings. Why?
The best compression leggings are made from high-quality moisture wicking materials with a double layer waistband. These compression garments’ high rise waistband and moisture wicking properties make them a good buy.
They give just the right amount of compression and offer targeted support depending on what you want to improve while doing strength training and other exercises.
The best compression leggings feel buttery soft on your skin, and the compressive fabric makes them comfortable to wear even when working out in cold weather.
These compression leggings are snuggly and tight-fitting, making them ideal for sports and other physical activities. You can wear them in your hot Pilates classes as the compression leggings allow you to do more proper poses and make transitions easier to perform.
With all the benefits you experience from using compression leggings, you will soon realize that you’ve got them at a budget friendly price. These compression leggings are available in many sizes, including sizes XXS.
You can easily find leggings at physical and online stores, and they are available in fun colors, with side pockets and a host of other features.
Compression Leggings – Effective for Reducing Soreness
Compression leggings aid the body’s lymphatic system. When you exercise, what typically happens is you experience a build-up of lactic acid.
The breathable fabric of the compression garment helps in draining the build-up. As a result, the improved circulation you get when wearing compression leggings reduces soreness and inflammation.
If you often ignore exercising because of the soreness in your muscles, this is the sign you are waiting for. Compression leggings apply pressure where you need it when you need it.
Additionally, this compression gear improves the delayed onset of the soreness of your muscles after a workout. So, expect a shorter recovery period after extensive physical activity.
Compression Leggings – Perfect for Addressing Various Health Conditions
Whether you’re wearing bigger compression leggings or seamless leggings in sizes XXS, you will experience the following benefits from the light compression, gradient compression, graduated compression, or high compression you’ll get when using the garment:
Improved balance
The compression that your legs will get from wearing compression leggings will improve the balance and awareness of your body. This is due to the stimulation of your sensory receptors.
This benefit of compression leggings is ideal for people practicing complicated poses of Pilates or yoga.
Reduced skeletal vibrations
This is something that runners and other athletes often experience. They get that feeling due to the intense movements of their joints, bones, and muscles.
Compression leggings work by keeping the legs and their muscles in place during intense physical activity. This will reduce the soreness you will experience after the exercise.
Better circulatory performance
Senior citizens who often wear compression leggings will gain more comfort and reduce their risk of having swollen legs or ankles and nerve pain.
Other Things You Need to Know About Compression Leggings
Compression leggings come in two basic types – therapeutic and supportive.
You can only use supportive compression leggings in cases when you want to prevent swelling or when you are recovering from an injury. On the other hand, you can wear therapeutic compression leggings when sitting or standing for a long time, while exercising, or when you are engaged in high-intensity physical activities.
You have a variety of options when choosing the best compression leggings. There are compression leggings with side pockets, high rise, high waisted, flat seams, tummy control, chafe free stitching and a host of other beneficial features.
You only have to find the product that fits, provides a four-way stretch, and gives enough compression, depending on the levels of your physical activities.
Final words
When you’re ready to test the effectiveness and features of compression leggings, why don’t you wear one the next time you hit the gym or the Sweatbox nearest you? You better stock up on several pieces because you can wear these leggings to address certain health concerns.
One thing is for sure; compression leggings will make you look forward to your next exercise session regardless of your age and fitness levels.
About the Author​
Lynette is fully dedicated to the support and empowerment of the growing community of committed yoga students and teachers. As one of the Lead Instructors for Yoga Teacher Training, she is here to share tips on how to grow your profile as a yoga teacher or build a yoga business either physically or digitally.