Working with patients on a daily basis, I get a lot of questions about Compression Therapy.

Naturally they want to know what leg compression device or sleeve that I recommend for them.

Most of my patients tend to be athletes, so recovery is mainly a priority for them.

However I do have a quite a few people with blood circulation and fluid retention issues.

So what leg compression machine I recommend will invariably depend on what issue you have.

In this article, I will recommend a number of effective devices.

I will also go through the science of compression therapy- whether it’s effective and what it’s useful to treat.

Best Leg Compression For Athletes

Rapid Reboot Recovery System

Most of the people that have tried the Rapid Reboot Recovery System agree it is a helpful recovery tool, one that helps their legs feel “lighter”.

What makes this recovery boot unique is the ability to switch off certain areas of the boot to avoid possible painful spots.

What you get is 2 different modes of compression (Mode A and B) that cover 4 different areas of your legs: feet, calves, kneecap area, and hamstrings.

One of the modes massages the entire area at once while the other works by inflating them one by one.

Another part that can be adjusted is the amount of pressure that spans over 10 different levels. The pressure can be set from a minimal 20 mmHg (millimetres of mercury) up to 200 mmHg.

You can choose between 10, 20 or 30 min. cycles of recovery sessions.

The pants are true to size and go up over your kneecaps. They have helped many athletes and training enthusiasts tremendously.

Favorite Device For Lymphedema

People that suffer from swelling in their feet (a.k.a build-up of lymph) know it can be quite a painful experience. It shouldn’t be left untreated because it can cause further damage to the organs.

It can’t be completely cured by it can be controlled with the help of leg massagers such as the FIT KING. This device works with air pumping action to help you deal with Lymphedema.

FIT KING Leg Air Massager

If your lymphatic system is not functioning properly you might experience liquid retention in your feet, especially after long walks and runs. The FIT KING promises to help you with this issue by inflating and deflating pressure around your feet and calves.

It comes with a handheld controller so you’ll be able to adjust any settings with ease. Two massage modes work pretty much the same as the previous model.

One mode massages all at the same time, while the other alternates between sections.

If you need a lightweight (2.2lb) foot and calves massager that will give you relief at home, work or on travels, this one fits the bill. Even if you don’t experience any swelling, the FIT KING will improve your blood flow.

Best Leg Compression Wrap

If you’re looking to replace standard elastic bandages, the Circaid Juxtalite might have the answer for you:

Circaid Juxtalite Lower Leg System

The Circaid inelastic compression garment was first invented in 1991 as an alternative for all customers that were unsatisfied with the elastic compression stockings.

They are easier to use and do not require as much strength while handling them, as the elastic ones.

The company behind the product has been a health aid provider for over 80 years. They recommend using the Circaid Juxalite with an elastic stocking underneath.

Most people that tried this product agree it’s a great alternative to applying compression bandages every day, and they help with swelling and veins.

Best Recovery Sleeve

This device is similar to the Rapid Recovery system, with a few major differences.

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The recovery sleeves cover your entire legs, all the way up to your buttocks. They have more massage modes, higher levels of pressure and more air chambers than their counterpart.

The battery should last you for 2 hours, and you can choose between 5 and 99 minutes of massage sessions. The intensity levels range from 30mmHg all the way to 240mmHg.

We noticed that aside from being bigger and better than the Rapid Recovery system, these recovery sleeves come at a lower price as well.

If you’re not happy with the product, the company has a 30-day money back guarantee policy.

What Is Compression Therapy?

Compression therapy usually consists of elastic or non-elastic s socks or sleeves designed to apply pressure on your muscles and veins. This relieves pain and helps with the healing process.

The compression boots or sleeves come with an air pump that inflates and deflates the chambers while your legs get compressed at the same time or in certain intervals.

The sleeve compresses your muscles and veins helping increase blood flow. This is especially useful after injuries to remove the metabolic waste. Fresh blood is being pumped to the damaged region, helping the area clean itself and heal faster.

People that stand all day also appreciate these gadgets, since it helps them relax and sleep better after a long day at work.

What’s Compression Therapy Good For?

Compression therapy is good for athlete recovery, improving blood circulation, reducing pain and inflammation or removing excess fluid and toxins from our body.

It works by applying pressure to the lower limbs which in turn boosts circulation and encourages free flow of lymph in our body.

Blood Circulation

We can’t stress out enough the importance of good blood circulation and its positive effects on our body.

In compression therapy you receive a boost in blood circulation even though you are practically not moving at all. This is extremely useful for patients with reduced mobility.

Increased blood flow also speeds up the healing process by removing the metabolic waste that forms after an injury.

Even if you’re not injured, the massage sleeves will relieve the heaviness you feel in your feet after a long run.

Treating Lymphedema

Compression therapy has proved to be very effective in relieving the painful symptoms connected with fluid retention.

If your feet and legs swell after a long walk, try using a compression therapy device.

Your feet will feel lighter and you will prevent a possible tissue or vein damage.

The biggest problem with Lymphedema happens if it’s left untreated. It can form fibrous masses that are painful and limit our movement.

Reduces Swelling & Inflammation

Sometimes your legs can be swollen or inflamed from a hard paced work-out. If you went over-board, the time you’ll needed to recover usually spans from 3-5 days, depending how hard you were going.

With the compression device you cut that process in half.

Reduces Muscle & Joint Pain

This kind of treatments is nothing new and has been used in hospitals mostly to treat patients that were in recovery after having suffered various injuries.

Another group of people that have been benefiting from compression therapy are athletes.

They undergo strenuous workouts and need an effective way to rehabilitate their muscles fast and achieve top performance.

Athlete Recovery & Compression

Compression therapy helps athletes in two ways:

1. It helps muscles relax and removes metabolic waste by producing a lymphatic flush
2. It promotes a faster healing process by increasing blood flow into damaged areas

Even Olympic athletes use these little babies, and there’s a reason why. They offer a faster time of recovery AND an increase in range of motion after the recovery process.

One thing that every athlete appreciates is the mobility of the compression devices.

They are usually light-weight and can be taken on the road. They are a helpful tool for rehabilitation and achieving better results.

Varicose Veins

This condition happens when the valves in our veins weaken. This causes the blood to collect in little pools in the veins.

They usually begin looking like spider veins and then widen causing a lot of pain in the process.

The compression machine can help prevent forming of blood clots by improving your circulation. I t also helps relieve the pain and tightness from standing long hours.

Does It Work?

After a serious in-depth research we have to say that compression therapy is absolutely loved by athletes of all sorts. Regardless if you’re a professional athlete or a sporting enthusiast you will need these massaging devices at least 3 times a week.

No matter what sport you choose, it is always wonderful to come back home to a 20 minute massage session that will relax your muscles and improve blood flow.

The price for home use shouldn’t exceed $1000. There are certain places that offer a monthly membership that could cost around $100 a month.

This is a good way to give compression therapy a try before committing to get one for home use.