Such compression sleeves are widely commercially available, and it’s likely that most athletes are already familiar with them. One can find plenty of skin-tight compression sleeves online for as low as $20, although the refrigerated variety might set you back over $100.
Vincent noted that using these sleeves sped up recovery times immensely and allowed actors to train literally more than twice as hard. “Normally, we could train two times a week,” he said to the Post, “but with this recovery technique, we can work with them five times a week, sometimes more.” Vincent also used Altus’ compression devices to train actors for films like “Blade Runner 2049,” but also honest-to-goodness athletes like Serena Williams. Vincent clearly believes in these devices.
Men’s Health reminded its readers of the RICE system, a recovery acronym one might have learned in gym class or in their youthful sporting activities. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, the four necessary components required for a hasty athletic recovery. The Altus sleeves, in pumping cold water through its tubing system, combined the compression and the ice portions of recovery. “It’s not always pleasant to put cold things on your body,” Vincent said, “so it took a little coaxing for people to use [it].” Vincent doesn’t list any actors or stunt performers by name, but one might assume that any “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” actor likely had to slip on an Altus sleeve.
Well, the ones that weren’t CGI, anyway.