If you work out or train odds are you have used compression garments at some point, but are they helping? Studies show that compression garments have no effect on racing performance, VO2 max, cardiac response, or blood lactate. They do have a small positive effect on time to exhaustion, running economy, perceived exertion, and markers of muscle damage & inflammation. Compression garments are best used to help decrease delays onset muscle soreness and decreased post-exercise

With walking, the effort by the ankle extensor muscles (shin muscles, pointing the toes up) is twice as much as the knee extensors muscles (quad muscles) and 25% more when running. Without strength in those ankle extensor muscles we lose ankle mobility. Without ankle mobility our knee extensors must activate more which adds additional stress on the knee. Ankle strength is the key to maintaining ankle mobility and in keeping optimal biomechanics. Without it, injuries increase