What Are Compression Leggings Used For? Benefits Explained

Written By Alecsa Stewart 
Scientifically Reviewed by Daniel Chantigian

Support, blood flow increase, better balance, preventing blood clots, and a sense of style: these are all benefits you can gain with the right pair of compression leggings. Although tights and leggings are always in style, using a compression pair can yield significant benefits, without anyone even knowing.

Thanks to the therapeutic pressure they apply to the full length of your legs, compression leggings are equally beneficial for athletes, active people, those recovering from illness or injury, postpartum moms, and so many more. They boost blood flow, support the muscles and joints, and increase balance and performance, all while looking great and helping you feel your best.

In this article, we will cover the benefits of compression leggings, in and out of the gym, and tell you how they differ from other similar garments, to help you choose your own pair.

What are Compression Leggings and How Do They Work?

Compression leggings are long tight-fitting pants that apply therapeutic pressure to the limbs, stimulating blood flow and supporting the muscles and joints. Clinical research has found that graduated compression - a tighter fit at the ankles that gradually loosens towards the waist - is particularly effective for stimulating venous return (aka blood flow back to the heart), which reduces the risk of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and swelling (or edema).

Athletes (professional and recreational alike) often reach for compression leggings both for improved exercise performance and faster recovery after working out. Compression leggings are amazingly comfortable and give you benefits if you prefer them for everyday wear. They help those who spend a lot of time on their feet by preventing swelling and discomfort thanks to how they improve circulation. They can also be useful on long-distance trips like plane rides and drives to effectively prevent blood clots or DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and even the feeling of heavy legs. Finally, compression leggings are stylish and versatile, so you can enjoy the great benefits of compression while also looking your best, in any setting.

The Benefits of Compression Leggings

Wearing compression leggings can benefit you during exercising, while resting, or during everyday activities like work or travel. Many research studies have found that compression leggings benefits include helping improve circulation, reducing swelling or chronic edema and feelings of fatigue, supporting and helping muscles recover, preventing blood clots or DVT, and more.

Improved Blood Circulation

The best-known benefit of compression is that it increases circulation, both locally and throughout the body. Recent studies point to the benefits of compression leggings for recovery through improved blood circulation, such as a 2024 paper that looked at the impact of graduated compression in a sports context. With graduated compression designs, such as our Vim & Vigr leggings, the veins are better supported for returning blood towards the heart, which prevents fluid and blood from pooling at the periphery (i.e., around your ankles or in the feet). This is linked to lower risk of blood clots, varicose veins, and deep vein thrombosis. It is also a huge benefit for comfort and energy levels.

Because compression leggings facilitate better blood flow, they are great for recovering from physical activities or a long day on your feet.

Reduced Leg Swelling and Fatigue

Through improved blood flow and the pressure they apply locally, compression leggings reduce swelling (which is generally caused by fluid building up in the tissues in the lower legs). Moreover, graduated compression tights provide a light massage to the lower legs, supporting circulation and reducing the impact of gravity from standing or sitting for extended periods of time.

This means that, whether you’ve been working behind a desk for hours or spent the day hiking in the woods, your legs will feel lighter and more energized if you wear compression leggings. This will also leave you without the dreaded “heavy” feeling that comes with poor circulation and the pressures of gravity.

Faster Muscle Recovery After Exercise or Injury

Numerous studies have linked the improvements in circulation due to compression to better post-exercise recovery. This might occur because better blood flow delivers nutrients and oxygen to the muscles more effectively, which helps them stave off fatigue and rebuild after a workout. The result is less soreness and a fresher feeling, sooner. This allows you to go back to your favorite sport quicker and may help you improve your performance.

For athletes and those recovering from injury, compression leggings not only help with the circulation, but also support the joints in a reassuring way. For example, if you’ve had Achilles tendonitis or a calf strain, the tight grip from compression exercise pants will take some pressure off the tendon or muscle as you start working out again. They also help with balance and proprioception, stimulating sensory receptors in the skin, which can improve body awareness (especially for low-skilled athletes, as shown in this study).

Enhanced Support and Stability for Joints

Compression leggings enhance balance and reduce negative impact on the muscles and joints thanks to how tightly they grip the legs, which stimulates sensory receptors as described above. The therapeutic pressure from compression helps with your body alignment, which reduces the impact from gravity and landing on hard surfaces. This helps muscles delay fatigue while also protecting the joints.

Discover graduated compression tights you can wear all day.

 

 

Instantly Upgrade Your Look

Besides their supportive and blood flow boosting properties, compression leggings also have style merits. The way they cling to the body instantly upgrades your look, especially in the gym. Compression tights or leggings can give you more confidence in your performance, thanks to the balance and muscle support they provide. This will make you look and feel your best during your workouts.

Before hitting the gym or during your recovery, compression leggings are also a great clothing option you can pair with most tops and shoes, socks, or sandals. This not only helps warm up the muscles or support and boost their repair. It also adds a stylish garment into your wardrobe rotation, with extra benefits while you wear it.

Discreet and Versatile

One added benefit of compression leggings is how versatile they are, allowing post-op patients, active athletes, or postpartum moms to enjoy a boost in blood flow, more support throughout the whole length of the leg including the pelvic area, and less swelling and discomfort - all while looking like a stylish piece of clothing.

You can wear our everyday 15-20 mmHg footless compression tights in the gym, on the street, or while lounging at home, enjoying complete flexibility and comfort.

What Are Compression Leggings Used For?

From working out to looking great at work or relaxing after a long road trip, compression leggings are versatile and can be used to gain circulation or recovery benefits at any point in your day.

Everyday Health and Wellness

The improvements in blood flow and muscle support make compression leggings a garment of choice for circulation benefits and exercise recovery, regardless of if you are at work or in social situations. Replace regular pants with compression leggings to reduce the risk of swelling and blood clots when traveling long-distance, but also keep away swollen ankles when you’re in the office or on your feet in jobs like nursing or hair styling.

Compression leggings are also soothing, helping reduce inflammation, swelling, and soreness as you put your feet up at the end of the day. They are recommended for recovering not just from the gym, but also from the impact of gravity, heat, swelling, or poor circulation in everyday situations.

Exercise and Athletic Support

For athletes, compression leggings support the joints and muscles, reducing some of the impact and helping them perform their sport for longer. They are also essential in recovery by how they improve circulation, which brings oxygen and nutrients to the muscles more effectively.

Some people have also experienced better balance from wearing compression leggings, thanks to the enhanced sensory perception benefit that compression can provide. Finally, boosting blood flow in areas that have been injured previously (e.g. a tendonitis) may speed up the recovery, while the tight support from leggings gives more confidence when returning to your sport.

Stylish Support for Medical Needs

What if you are suffering from poor peripheral circulation, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, chronic edema, or neuropathy? Just like knee-high compression socks improve lower limb blood flow, compression leggings do this for the whole leg and pelvic area. What is more, they are a stylish piece of clothing that fits seamlessly into your wardrobe, and which you can wear to work or play. No one will be able to tell the difference between compression and regular leggings, but you will feel the benefits of compression leggings! Be sure to discuss using compression wear with your doctor in case you have conditions that contraindicate use of them.

Try our compression leggings on your next walk.

 

 

 

How are Compression Leggings Different from Regular Leggings?

Both compression and regular leggings are tight fitting garments. However, only compression leggings apply therapeutic pressure to the whole legs, stimulating blood flow and providing support to the joints and muscles. High-quality compression leggings are made with flexible, breathable nylon, which allows you to work out or chill out in equal levels of comfort and range of motion. Regular leggings are often made from cotton, which is less flexible and versatile, or from a blend of fabrics that are not as breathable and sleek as nylon.

Our Vim & Vigr compression leggings are also graduated: they are tighter towards the ankles and slowly release pressure up the leg. Research has found that graduated compressing designs are essential for boosting upward blood flow, i.e. venous return to the heart. It reduces the risk of lower limb swelling and discomfort, of lymphedema and blood clots. Non-graduated compression leggings apply equal pressure throughout the leg, which might not offer the same benefits.

How are Compression Leggings Different from Other Compression Wear?

The compression applied by any garment extends to the part of the body it covers. So, with knee-high compression socks, for example, you get the blood flow boost from the feet to the knees. Graduated compression socks boost upward circulation, so you get more of a benefit than from regular compression socks. Compression leggings support the entire length of the leg - from the ankles to the pelvic area - all the way up to the waistline. 

This adds a few benefits:

• Full leg muscle support and recovery boost: compression leggings benefit you by soothing the thigh and glute muscles, reducing soreness, and improving recovery in these areas as well as the calf muscles.

• Groin and pelvic support: for postpartum moms or those recovering from surgery in this area of the body, the support from compression leggings is useful in returning to physical activity or for reducing swelling, among other benefits.

• A stylish garment: compression leggings look great and are discreet and versatile; you can pair them with any tops to wear all day long or simply when exercising or recovering.

How to Choose Compression Leggings

If you are sold on the benefits of compression leggings but do not know how to choose them, we have you covered. You will need to check out the compression levels, fabric types, and sizing to ensure you make the most out of your pair.

Consider Compression Level

It is important to remember that the “compression” label is not a universal attribute. There are several levels of compression, recommended for diverse needs and medical conditions. Generally, they start at 15-20 mmHg, a firm but gentle pressure that boosts circulation without hindering your range of motion. We think this is ideal for both exercising and recovering. And these are the compression leggings you can wear all day, at work or at home.

For more support, doctors often recommend 20-30 mmHg compression tights or stockings when you are recovering from surgery or if you suffer from a medical condition. This is less about shifting lactic acid from the muscles or helping you feel more in control at the gym, and more about supporting legs with varicose veins, for example. To maximize the benefits, Vim & Vigr offer full length tights in this level of compression. They are discreet and match any outfit but will be less of a workout garment.

If you have more severe circulatory problems, please speak to your doctor about prescription compression garments. These are typically in pressures of 30-40 mmHg and are not for everyday wear.

Fabric Options

We have mentioned above that cotton is not best suited for exercising since it is not as breathable or flexible as, for example, nylon. This is why fabric choice is crucial when you pick your next pair of compression leggings.

You will most often find compression socks and tights in the following materials:

• Cotton: the classic fabric for socks, very versatile and comfortable, but not moisture-wicking and less flexible. Regular (non-compression) leggings are sometimes made from cotton. We have a wide range of knee-high compression socks in this material, to add a pop of style and color to your outfits.

• Merino wool: perfect for keeping warm in winter or wicking moisture in the heat and humidity. This is a great fabric for cozy socks.

• Nylon: sleek and chic, suits workout clothing like a charm. Our nylon compression tights allow you full range of movement, reduce the risk of chafing or rubbing, and offer full compression benefits while exercising or recovering.

Proper Fit and Sizing Tips

Finally, ensure your socks and leggings fit well when you buy compression garments. It is a myth that compression tights should be snug fitting. Yes, you need to feel the therapeutic pressure, but you also need to stay flexible so you can avoid any discomfort, pulling, or even bruising. Poor fitting compression leggings can cut off your circulation, achieving the opposite of the benefits you are looking for!

The simplest way to ensure your leggings fit well is to follow our sizing guidelines on the product pages. They match your weight and height to suggest the most appropriate size. Of course, try these for 1-2 hours at a time the first time you receive them, and see how they feel. You should feel supported and a gentle massage on the muscles, but no restriction on movement. We recommend gradually extending the length of time you wear them for, depending on personal preference. If you feel unusual discomfort after wearing compression garments, please consult your medical care team.

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Compression leggings benefits include improving overall circulation and supporting your joints and muscles, whether you are recovering from injury or simply looking for a boost next time you exercise. They allow people with circulatory problems to avoid swelling and discomfort, while staying active and recovering after hard gym sessions. And they are versatile and stylish, so you can wear them anywhere, any time.

Browse our compression leggings and boost your leg blood flow, in style.

 

 

 

References

Angelakos, I., Mills, C., & O'Halloran, J. (2020). The Effects of Compression Garments on Stability and Lower Limb Kinematics During a Forward Lunge. Journal of human kinetics, 71, 59–68. Read it here.

Charles, T., Mackintosh, D., Healy, B., Perrin, K., Weatherall, M., & Beasley, R. (2011). Merino wool graduated compression stocking increases lower limb venous blood flow: a randomized controlled trial. Advances in therapy, 28(3), 227–237. Read it here.

Donath, L., Faude, O. (2016). Compression Garments and Performance Enhancement in Balance and Precision Tasks. In: Engel, F., Sperlich, B. (eds) Compression Garments in Sports: Athletic Performance and Recovery. Springer, Cham. Read it here.

Guo, N., Lu, Z., Li, Z., Chen, N., Liu, K., Dai, H., & Zhang, P. (2024) Optimized design of women’s graduated compression sports leggings. Textile Research Journal. Read it here.

Liu, R., Lao, T. T., Kwok, Y. L., Li, Y., & Ying, M. T. (2008). Effects of graduated compression stockings with different pressure profiles on lower-limb venous structures and haemodynamics. Advances in therapy, 25(5), 465–478. Read it here.

Moñux, G., Serna-Soto, M., Plá-Sanchez, F., Zamorano-León, J. J., Segura, A., Rial, R., Freixer, G., Zekri-Nechar, K., Hugo-Martínez, C., Serrano, J., & López-Farré, A. (2021). Compression stockings attenuate the expression of proteins associated with vascular damage in human varicose veins. Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders, 9(2), 428–434. Read it here.

Mosti, G., Picerni, P., & Partsch, H. (2012). Compression stockings with moderate pressure are able to reduce chronic leg oedema. Phlebology, 27(6), 289–296. Read it here.

O'Riordan, S. F., Bishop, D. J., Halson, S. L., & Broatch, J. R. (2022). Compression-induced improvements in post-exercise recovery are associated with enhanced blood flow, and are not due to the placebo effect. Scientific reports, 12(1), 16762. Read it here.

O'Riordan, S. F., McGregor, R., Halson, S. L., Bishop, D. J., & Broatch, J. R. (2023). Sports compression garments improve resting markers of venous return and muscle blood flow in male basketball players. Journal of sport and health science, 12(4), 513–522. Read it here.

Sachdeva, A., Dalton, M., & Lees, T. (2018). Graduated compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 11(11), CD001484. Read it here.