Compression sleeves are used for a variety of different reasons. A compression sleeve is an elastic sleeve that is worn up over the arm. They are often used in conjunction with medical conditions where they can help to reduce swelling and pain They also limit movement so as not to aggravate an existing condition. Often used during exercise, they help to support damaged or healing ligaments and muscles.
There are many indications for their medical use, with perhaps the most well known being to control the swelling in the arm brought about by lymphedema. Lymphedema is a very common occurrence in women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer, when it is common for lymphatic fluid to accumulate around the arms. Cancerous cells often also attack the lymph nodes found under a woman's armpit. As a result, tissue from the lymph nodes is usually taken for examination when a woman is found to have breast cancer. This damages the lymph nodes and impairs their ability to properly drain lymphatic fluids; thus the fluids build up in particular in the arm region.
Likewise, with any arm surgery where there is likely to be swelling, a doctor will often recommend that compression sleeves be worn post-operative to offset any discomfort the swelling would cause.
They are also sometimes recommended for people with conditions such as severe tendinitis or arthritis, where movement causes pain to shoot up the arm. The sleeve will help to alleviate pain caused by arm movement and it will also help to keep the muscles and joints warm.
After exercise, many people experience muscle inflammation and soreness. It is thought that wearing compression sleeves while exercising helps to significantly reduce these problems. They are also often worn during exercise, as well as afterwards in order to lessen muscle soreness. This compression clothing also helps to squeeze the muscles, forcing blood back to the heart more quickly where it is re-oxygenated at a faster rate than usually found during exercise. This is also believed to increase performance while exercising, especially when used during more strenuous activities.
While there is no concrete evidence as to how much compression sleeves will help enhance an athlete's performance, there is no question that they do aid in reducing muscle pain and swelling post-exercise. There is also no question as to their benefit when used to help treat medical conditions that are not specifically related to exercise, such as joint and tendon inflammation or the buildup of lymphatic fluid in breast cancer patients.
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