Based on scan of the available studies and my own reading, I see sleep continuously cited as the most effective recovery method (given this is when human growth hormone is produced during deep sleep), a well as post-workout carb/protein loading (which accelerates tissue repair via amino acids and replaces lost glycogen in muscles). Last is safety, as brands have to make sure their compression boots operate within a specific boundary to ensure you receive a tightening effect on your muscles without going too far and potentially causing injury.I don’t think there is an impressive amount of scientific data out there that demonstrates that pneumatic compression is that effective, enough to spend $500-$2000 on a product. Second to consider is portability, as brands have been able to condense the size of their products and make them relatively easy to move around the house and travel with. Specs like simple control panels, built-in internal pumps, preset programs, and compression targeting are several examples of tech that's been improved upon in the last few years. So with the price points you see with Normatec and Therabody, you have to consider the amount of research and development needed to help advanced the compression boots while still being easy to use. Painting in broad brushstrokes, compression boots are largely expensive because you're bringing high-level compression therapy tech into to the comfort of your own home. Then, as you get more comfortable with using your compression boots, you can play with the higher mmHG levels and time settings.īuying a pair of compression boots is no small investment, which is why we took the time to vet the most trustworthy products above. Just make sure if you're new to using compression boots you start with the lowest setting first with short periods of time. So as long as you properly place the boots on your legs and use them for the time settings given, your risk of injury is low.

To ensure your blood circulation doesn't get cut off TheraBody and Normatec have capped their devices to only reach specific amounts of pressure (measured in mmHG). Despite the lack of proof, the gentle squeezing of the leg muscles can feel relaxing-even massage-like at times. The theory behind this practice is the onrush of blood will help bring nutrients to help your legs recover efficiently, but this has not been proven for fact. But just a moment after all that, the chambers methodically deflate, permitting blood to travel first into your thighs, then down through your lower legs, then into your feet.' As this compression continues around your entire leg, you’re left with even more limited blood flow.

'So when the boots tighten around your feet first and then your calves, your blood flow to those areas is limited. 'As each chamber in the boots fills with air and compresses more tightly, it prevents a large amount of blood from circulating through that part of your body,' says Samuel. Ahead, six curated compression boot picks, conscious of all workout routines and budgets.īest Home Gym Equipment | Best Massage Guns | Best Running Shoes | Best Recovery Slides and Sandals | Best Compression Pants | Best Compression Socks | Hyperice X Review | Best Workout HeadphonesĬompression boots work by using air pressure to control the blood circulation in your legs. To help sift through the rapidly growing options out there, we put together a roundup of the best compression boots for all types of individuals. 'The end result is definitely relaxing-thus allowing my nervous system to downregulate, and this downregulation has recovery value.' Despite that, compression boots do have value,' says Ebenezer Samuel, MH Fitness Director, C.S.C.S. 'There's limited definitive science that proves compression boots do actively speed up your lower-body recovery. Instead, we can only tell you how we feel after using them. (Brands might tell you otherwise, but we only go by the independent studies.). To be clear there is still a major lack scientific research to support claims that compression boots help speed up or improve your recovery process. For those who are skeptics about compression boots, we get it.

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