Compression tights are becoming increasingly popular, and many claims are made about their potential benefits. Just what does the scientific evidence say about their effectiveness in different situations?
What are compression tights?
At their most basic, compression tights, also known as compression stockings, are a type of hosiery, just like fishnet tights. Like fishnet tights, they can help define your body shape. Their main purpose, however, is as a medical garment that fits tightly around the leg to influence blood flow.
Why do people wear compression tights?
There are a range of circumstances when someone might wear compression tights, but often the underlying reason is to attempt to improve circulation and stimulate blood flow, whether to try and avoid blood clots or to make exercise more effective. It is also argued that they warm the muscles and that their close, supportive nature can work almost like a massage, both of which may reduce the risk of aches and injury.
What does the evidence say?
It is not disputed that compression tights have medical value. They are recommended by professionals as a way to protect against thrombosis on long haul flights. In exercise, however, evidence is more mixed. The benefits of improved circulation from the tights seem minimal compared to the general stimulation provided by your muscles naturally at work. The tights may boost proprioception slightly, but no conclusive link has been found between this and better performance.
As regards recovery, compression tights may be used in similar way to compression bandages after surgery, to prevent blood pooling in a certain area, and this may indeed reduce soreness whilst you are healing. It may depend in part on the type of exercise, as the evidence is stronger for it aiding post-weight training recovery than it is for running or cycling.
In conclusion, the effectiveness of your compression tights depends on why you are wearing them. They are recommended as a way to prevent blood clots on long haul flights, but the evidence of their usefulness when exercising is more nuanced, and suggests they are more useful during recovery than during training.