Your Guide To Choosing The Best Foot Compression Sleeves

What is a Foot Compression Sleeve?

A foot compression sleeve is a specially designed sock-like cloth that is used to apply the right amount of pressure on a certain body part. This pressure is intended to dilate arteries, which will improve blood flow. By improving circulation, the sleeved area is relieved of pain, tiredness, and cramping.

These foot sleeves offer stability to the muscles. Individuals who wear compression sleeves are able to exert their body more and can carry more weight when needed.

Often, it is also used by people who have suffered from an injury. Aside from pain relief, increased blood circulation hastens muscle recovery. The support it provides also helps the person move without any danger of reinjuring the area.

What are the Different Types of Sleeves?

Different sleeves are used for different purposes. Each type of sleeve also has variations in length, the amount of compression, and materials used. Know the various types of compression sleeves, so you can choose which one is the best compression sleeve for you.

• Knee compression sleeve

The knee compression sleeve is a tube-shaped stretchy cloth worn over the knee to tighten and support the muscles around the area. This improves the person’s stability and blood flow.

These are best for people who have knee injury and individuals who do high-impact sports or intense workouts that put a lot of exertion on the knees; exercises like going on long runs or doing squats.

• Calf compression sleeve

The calf compression sleeve is a tubular piece of cloth that is worn over the calves. It is placed above the ankles then pulled up until just below the knee.

The sleeve is good for people who are working out, recovering from an injury, or during pregnancy as it provides stability and support to carry more weight. People wearing these sleeves are able to stand or run for a longer time.

• Ankle compression sleeve

The ankle compression sleeve is like a toeless sock that is meant to offer support to the ankles. The compression socks tighten above the ankle bone to relieve pressure and offer foot support without restricting any movement. It can be worn comfortably under your socks and is not meant to replace your socks.

This sleeve is preferred by athletes, runners, and individuals who are required to be on their feet for long periods.

There is also a sock variation that covers the toes for more added support.

• Plantar fasciitis sleeve

The plantar fasciitis compression sleeve is the smallest among the different types as it is simply placed around the arch of the foot. This is meant to provide support to the plantar fascia, the tissue that connects the bottom of the foot to the heel bone.

This is good for athletes, individuals who have had an injury, or old people who have difficulty walking due to the inflammation of the plantar fascia.

Benefits of Wearing Compression Sleeves

People usually wear compression sleeves for comfort and the numerous beneficial things they can do for the body. Increasing blood flow to the muscles offer a lot of benefits, such as:

• Alleviating pain

This is one of the main reasons people use compression sleeves. Whenever they experience pain, wearing sleeves or socks immediately provides pain relief. This is because the pressure offers support to the strained muscles so they can relax and recuperate.

People who constantly experience knee, calf, or heel pain are often prescribed to wear sleeves all the time, so they can function normally during the day and sleep well at night.

People who travel a lot, or work sitting down or standing up all day also benefit from compression socks as they keep the blood circulating. This lessens the swelling and pain on their feet and legs.

• Developing stronger muscles

Our muscles require oxygen to function well. With the help of compression sleeves, the muscles receive more oxygen, making them healthy and strong.

When you have healthy muscles, your body is stronger and more stable. You can carry more weight and do more strenuous physical activities. You also have a lower chance of tiring and cramping during or after exercising. Your legs, ankles, and feet are also less likely to swell.

• Helping injuries heal faster

Injuries recover faster with the help of compression sleeves. Aside from getting more oxygen, the area is given support to let it rest and heal quicker. Sleeves also prevent reinjuring the area, so you can safely move about without having to worry about the injury.

• Treating and preventing poor circulation problems

People who have varicose veins benefit a lot from wearing calf compression sleeves. It lets the blood flow easily through the veins and arteries, treating the enlarged varicose veins and preventing blood clots that could lead to other conditions like Deep Vein Thrombosis and Post-Thrombotic Syndrome.

If already suffering from these conditions, the sleeves work to speed up the healing process.

• Helping individuals perform better at sports

Athletes having stronger muscles and wearing support sleeves can exert their bodies to the fullest. They also do not have to worry about getting injured, which lets them focus more on their sport.

Then after a game, their muscles recover faster because of increased blood flow and oxygen. They also experience less fatigue than people who do not wear compression sleeves.

How to Choose the Best Foot Compression Sleeve

There are many different types and variations for each type of compression sleeve in the market. Having so much to choose from can be confusing.

Here are some simple guidelines to help in your decision-making before committing to a purchase.

• Compression

Determine what part of your body needs the support and how much pressure is required for a comfortable fit.

If you have daily work that requires you to stand up or sit down for long periods of time, knee-high compression socks are for you. These have closed toes, and look just like regular socks. The extra compression on the toes helps in lessening foot swelling at the end of the day.

As for athletes and people who like working out, sleeves are better. The open toes offer unrestricted movement while still providing adequate compression and support for your feet and legs.

Look for sleeves or socks that have graduated compression. This means that they are designed to have decreasing pressure as the material goes further from the heart. Your extremities receive less blood flow from the heart; therefore, it needs more compression there. A sock, for example, should fit tighter at the foot then gradually loosens bit by bit as it goes up the leg.

• Size

Brands selling compression sleeves usually provide a size chart. You can use that to determine which one will fit you best.

Since the sleeves are quite elastic, one can commonly fit a wide range of sizes. Just look for your size in the product description or tag on which they indicate the sizes for both men and women it is compatible with.

The best move is to try on the sleeve first to see if it offers enough support but is not too tight as to irritate and mark your skin.

• Comfort

You will be wearing these compression sleeves or socks the whole day, so they have to be extremely comfortable. Your feet are bound to sweat when wearing socks or doing physical activities. So, if the sleeves make you sweat and stay wet underneath, it is time to get a different one.

Sleeves or socks made with nylon and spandex have moisture-wicking properties for the best experience. Moisture is the breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. These sleeves are made to let your skin breathe and stay dry; keeping any bad odor away while letting you feel fresh all day.

Nylon and spandex also offer superior compression. They are durable for everyday wash and wear, yet soft on the skin as they gently compress your body.

• Care instructions

Compression sleeves or socks are subject to stretching the whole day, every day. This constant severe stress on the fabric will eventually ruin it. Laundering them in the washing machine will also most likely deteriorate the fabric faster.

Since you will be using these sleeves daily, it is best to choose the ones that are easily hand-washable and dries quickly. This will help prolong the life of your trusty sleeves.

• Price

Compression sleeve prices can range from $10 to $100 per pair or per piece. Purchasing the cheaper ones is truly tempting. However, do not let the price be your basis. Sometimes, low price equates to low quality. Poorly made sleeves can cause more harm than good.

Get the perfect mix of quality and affordability. Look for the best foot compression sleeve or socks that are made with quality and durable materials that will last you for more than a few weeks but also will not break the bank.

These are the various factors to think about when choosing the right compression sleeves. Take them into consideration before making your purchase.

Now, let’s take a look at a couple of the best foot compression sleeves in the market made by Brison Health.

Soft Elastic Reusable Fabric Sleeve

This sleeve is developed by our Brison Health podiatrists to alleviate pain from plantar fasciitis, flat-footedness, and other chronic foot conditions.

It provides instant pain relief through the compression that boosts your blood circulation. It also provides gentle support to the transverse arch of the foot, letting you move and do sports without feeling any tightening or pain.

The sleeve comes in a size that fits most people – sizes 5 to 11 for men, and sizes 6 to 13 for women. No need to worry that it might not fit right. These were designed to comfortably fit the said range of sizes.

Made of medical-grade nylon, it is durable and easy to wash by hands – perfect for everyday use. It also has moisture-wicking properties that will keep you dry and fresh the whole day.

The price point of this sleeve is at the introductory level at just a measly $10.99 for a pair of excellent compression sleeves. However, the quality it offers is top-notch. It is, therefore, the perfect combination of quality and value at its finest.

Metatarsal Compression Arch Support Sleeves

These arch support sleeves are developed by our Brison Health podiatrists to target pain and chronic foot conditions related to the metatarsals or the ball of the foot.

The extra benefit of this sleeve is the addition of the metatarsal support gel pads underneath. The cushions are made of SEBS (styrene ethylene butylene styrene); a durable and excellent shock absorber. It provides extra support to the ball of your foot, so you can go about your sports and activities without the worry of getting any pain in the foot.

It offers the same comfort as the other fabric sleeve with its breathable moisture-wicking materials made of silk and spandex. It is also hand-washable, so, it is easy to keep them clean even with daily use.

The size also fits a wide range – sizes 5-11 for men and sizes 6-13 for women.

Exceptional customer experience

Checkout on our Brison website is a breeze. Paying for your item only takes a few minutes to do, and it will be shipped anywhere you are.

We also offer a trial period of 90 days to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. If you are not happy with the results of using our foot sleeves, your money will be refunded. Now, that is a guarantee that is really difficult to pass up.

Conclusion

Foot compression sleeves offer a lot of benefits not just for your foot, but for your overall health. Get the best compression sleeve by following the tips we have outlined for you. Start experiencing the pain-relief and freedom of movement today!