Recovering From Sciatica With The Bio Skin Vector Back Brace

What's the easiest way to reduce a six foot two inch thirty-two year old husky ginger to tears? Bambi? No. Well, .....actually yes. But not because I'm vegan...because I have a soul. Toy Story 3? Also......yes. But I'm talking about sciatica y'all. That leg numbing beast that almost derailed my attempt at the Leadville 100.

Im no stranger to sciatica. Since college I've dealt with spats of it here and there. It would slowly creep into my life and I'd slowly take steps to slowly get it back under control.But now, with only six weeks of training before I attempt my first 100 mile ultra marathon, there couldn't possibly be a worse time to experience the gnarliest sciatica flare-up of my life. It came on faster than ever before and, with the help of a genius new back brace, left faster than ever before.

Anyone who has seen a medical professional for help with their sciatica has almost certainly been told to wear a back-brace during recovery. It decreases movement, promotes proper posture, and gives pelvic and lower spine support...all things that create a positive healing environment for your spine. Serendipitously, I had came upon the new Bio Skin Vector Back Brace just days before my flare-up and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Ill attempt to avoid gushing but it's going to be difficult. This is a typical back brace on steroids. The Lamborghini of back braces. Worth. Every. Penny.

Heres why... 

First, the quality. If you've used other Bio Skin products you know full well that they don't mess around when it comes to material and build quality. This thing is rugged, hand washable, and impeccably designed.

Second, the Bio Skin Vector Back Brace has a built-in slot for a heat/ice pack and comes with a heat/ice pack perfectly sized for this pocket.  A huge advantage over a standard issue back brace.

Lastly, the Bio Skin Vector doesn't only offer the traditional level of support from the main body of the brace. After you put the brace on and close the front main Velcro closure there are two additional tabs attached to a system of pulleys surrounding the brace that allow you to add ann additional layer of support. This additional support applies the desired amount of pressure to the back lumbar support of the brace pulling it in toward your lower back giving you even more support exactly where you need it most. The tabs can be attached at any level of support you choose and easily and securely attach to the brace  using Bio Akin's super strong Velcro closures.

Simply, The Best... Bio Skin Compression Shorts

You know how sometimes you're judgmental and eye-rolly with people who swear by their compression gear but can't give you any good reason for squeezing themselves into such tiny spaces other than "It feels better" but then you try compression socks and kind of really like them and then you try compression shorts and fall madly and deeply in love with them because not only are they comfortable but they also make a noticeable difference in your pain and discomfort levels not only during recovery but also while running? *gasp*

Sorry for the run on sentence y'all but these Bio Skin Compression Shorts have me a smidgen overstimulated. Here's why...

You know how sometimes you only need to hold a product in your hand for a few seconds to judge it's quality? From the second I touched these shorts, I immediately noticed a higher build quality. The stitching is strong and durable, there are very few seams, and the fabric y'all....seriously, the fabric. It's latex-free.....neoprene-free...yet feels like a high-quality thin lightweight breathable neoprene. It provides the perfect amount of compression while remaining breathable and quick-drying.

If this is your first compression shorts rodeo...prepare yourself. Getting myself into these bad boys was a bit like trying to fit a bratwurst into a breakfast sausage casing. Luckily, Bio Skin has a killer website to assure me I had put them on correctly and confirm that I had indeed read the sizing chart correctly and ordered the correct size. After my first long run, I didn't have to spend long in these compression shorts before falling in love with them. 

One of my biggest battles during my ultra running journey has been a battle against muscle cramps. We're talking some severe take-a-240lb-grown-ass-man-to-the-ground-crying-in-the-fetal-position muscle cramps. This was my entire reason for trying the Bio Skin Compression Shorts. If they didn't help with my muscle cramps in my groin and quads I had no other reason to bother with them. 

So did they work!?

First, I used the Bio Skin Compression Shorts during recovery. Deeeeefinitely noticed a difference. I'm in my last few weeks of training for the Leadville 100 and I don't have time to waste with overly lengthy recovery periods. I need to be back on my feet ASAP. I wouldn't say just wearing the shorts took entire days off my recovery time but it definitely made a noticeable difference by making it much easier to run on tired and sore legs.

Next, I wanted to try wearing them during a long run to see if I noticed a difference in my cramps. Let's be clear...the Bio Skin Compression Shorts aren't exactly designed to be worn WHILE running. They're meant to act as more of a recovery aid AFTER the fact. Buuuuuuuuuut they're SUPER durable, breathable, lightweight, cool, and seam-free (chafe-free) in the legs so I wore them for back to back marathons on Mt. Diablo. My love for these shorts was solidified. 12,000' of climb over two days and not a muscle spasm or cramp to be had. There's no way I could normally have done those distances back-to-back with that much cramp and spasm free vertical climb without the help of these bad boys. 

In short (pun intended), I'm in love.

Snag yours here... you won't regret it.