You may see a lot of runners wearing “sleeves” or “compression socks.” These types of athletic gear can be very beneficial and can help reduce muscle strain. Basically, the idea of compression is to compact the torn muscle so that the area has an opportunity to heal faster. Your heart pumps blood to the limbs and other places in the body. Our cells use the oxygen and nutrients from this blood. When we run, our muscles “vibrate.” This vibration adds up over time and leads to fatigue in the muscle itself. This is why you see some runners wearing these “compression” socks or sleeves. These socks or sleeves provide “graduated compression.” Which basically means, with all the movement (running, walking, swimming, lifting) that we do on a daily basis, compression sleeves can provide our muscles with support despite the “shock” or vibration, reducing the risk of developing a strain or pulled muscle. Recent studies have shown that an optimal amount of consistent compression on the walls of the arteries allows the vessels to dilate (expand), increasing blood flow inside them. Blood flow from the arteries has been shown to increase up to 40% during activity and 30% during recovery, allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow more freely through your body. Compression stabilizes the muscle and decreases vibration. This helps fight fatigue, increase blood flow, prevent muscle strain from happening, and help heal muscle strain that has already occurred.