Hype and Truth About Oxysox

For Geezer, socks are not the kind of thing that lend an advantage to a contest: Socks are the contest. If he can open his top drawer and find two socks that match, that’s a win. But for many, apparently, a new kind of sock is believed to have the power to enhance athletic performance. They are called Oxysox, and as the Washington Post reports, their manufacturer claims that by exerting graduated pressure — more on the foot and ankle, less around the calf — the socks boost calf muscle circulation and aerobic output and speed recovery, just as support hose do for people with vein ailments. In short, they make you run faster and jump higher. The Post puts the claims of Oxysox to a professor of kinesiology at California State University, Fresno, and learns that while there is much research indicating that medical pressurized stockings help reduce swelling, boost circulation and lessen fatigue and pain in patients with vein problems, there is not much research on Oxysox per se.  Graham Kelly, a vein specialist who happens to also be the president of Oxysox, cites some fairly persuasive studies from distant lands like New Zealand. Geezer is not quite persuaded, but he believes that for just under $20, Oxysox could be worth a try, at least if he can find a matching pair. Read more.