Compression Confusion

Let’s just chalk this up to one more thing I don’t understand. How I’m finishing up  my graduate degree eludes me daily because I continue to find more and more things that I need explained to me!

So, compression. Particularly compression sleeves, socks, tights, tops, etc. I am starting to see them EVERYWHERE, at all my races, and in all of fave blogs like SR and SUAR. (Weird! Their initials are kinda-sorta the same. Just saying.) Anyway, I’m not entirely sure I get the compression thing.

Source

First of all, what do they do? I read that they increase circulation and stuff….but do they do anything else? And secondly (and maybe this is a dumb question) but are you supposed to wear them during exercise or afterwards? I feel like I keep reading about people wearing them afterwards, but I saw a zillion people waltzing around with knee high socks at Barkin’ Dog and I’m pretty confident that I was looking at compression and not gym socks. And lastly, and this one is important so listen up! What’s the difference between sleeves and socks? Aside from the obvious lack of a foot area, cause clearly, I get that much….but do sleeves and socks serve different purposes?

I’m looking at these:

Zensah Sleeves (in pink!)

So, what do you think????