Overview -
As we continue to serve our patients throughout Central Oregon from the communities of Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters, Madras, La Pine, and all communities in between we are regularly being asked about the benefits of wearing compression sleeves, so we decided to write this blog post to help our patients gain a better understanding of the benefits of wearing compression sleeves.
What are Compression Sleeves?
A compression arm sleeve is a compression garment that is worn on your arm. These garments can be found in a wide variety of compression strengths and can be used to help maintain healthy circulation.
Benefits of Wearing Compression Sleeves
They help improve blood circulation to reduce excess swelling and build up muscles, ligaments, and tendons to help protect muscles from future injury. They also have health benefits for those who may be suffering from a circulation problem as they promote the flow of blood back to your heart. For example, following mastectomy surgery, a compression sleeve enhances blood flow to the surgical site to aid the healing process.
Compression sleeves can help your arms from getting tired and they can also ease swelling. Basically, they improve your blood flow and lessen pain and swelling in your arms. Active people wear compression sleeves to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. People who suffer from circulatory issues use arm sleeves to help promote healthy blood flow.
They also have different levels of pressure, measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Sleeves should feel snug, but not painfully tight. mild compression, with lower numbers, is usually enough to keep you comfortable with an active lifestyle. You may need higher compression strengths to manage a serious health condition.
Here are a couple health conditions that compression arm sleeves can be helpful with:
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a condition of the lymphatic system that causes lymphatic fluid to be retained in the limbs because of problems in the channels that typically carry it back toward the heart and into the bloodstream. Symptoms can range from slight swelling and a feeling of “heaviness” in the limbs to extreme deformity – also known as Elephantiasis. Compression arm sleeves are an essential part of helping control lymphedema. Wearing compression sleeves helps relieve early-stage fluid retention before it worsens.
Click here to learn more about how compression can help with lymphedema.
Circulation Problems
Compression sleeves can improve circulation and fight swelling and discomfort. People wear compression sleeves for comfort, to do better in sports, and to help prevent serious medical conditions. Basically, they improve your blood flow.
If you are experiencing any of these health condition you may want to ask your doctor if compression sleeves may help. If your doctor thinks they may help you, at Mariposa we carry a wide range of compression sleeves in non-medical and medical compression strengths.
Who Should Consider Wearing Compresson Sleeves?
Anybody struggling with one of the above health conditions.
People who are recovering from a recent surgery, especially breast surgery.
Athletes and active people.
How to Wear Them
Getting the right fit is essential to obtain the benefits of compression sleeves as well as get them on. Our certified Compression Fitters will take specific measurements to obtain the correct size. Once you have been properly sized and are ready to put your arm sleeve on for the first time there are several keys to your comfort and the therapeutic affects you receive from them. Smooth out the sleeve so it lies flat against your skin. Avoid bunching the fabric. Make sure the sleeves aren't too long. Don't fold or roll the top down. This can make them too tight. It could cause blood flow problems or cut off your circulation like a tourniquet. At Mariposa our certified Compression Fitters will help you learn how to put on (don) and take off (doff) your compression sleeves. For people who have trouble there are donning aids available to assist you including donning lotions and gloves as well as butlers.
Click here to see some of the options of compression sleeves we have at Mariposa!