The Benefits Of Wearing Compression Garments

Below we have outlined the different benefits of wearing compression garments in plain english.  We encourage you to read this page before making a decision on which compression garment is best for you as all brands have there own strengths and the most expensive does not always mean its the best garment for your needs.

Thermoregulation:

(Keeping your body at its correct operating temperature)

Your body will operate best when at the right temperature, muscles must be kept warm for optimal performance and to avoid injury, but overheating is just as bad, it puts stress on your heart and slows your reactions.  We believe that thermoregulation is one of the most beneficial features of wearing compression garments but is often overlooked.

The main difference between these tight fitting garments and regular clothing is their ability to efficiently remove perspiration from the skin.  This is achieved by the use of moisture wicking fabrics and the garments tight fitting nature.  Unlike other breathable garments such as quick dry t-shirts you do not get perspiration pooling on the skin.  This means that in hot climates your bodies cooling system continues to work efficiently and that in the cold you are not wearing wet clothing therefore will stay warmer.

It is important to consider where you will be wearing your compression wear because the brands all use different but similar fabrics.  Some are going to be heavier and better for keeping you warm in cold conditions whereas others will be better as an under garment and others in hot conditions.  We would also recommend thinking about color choice for this reason, as you know black is not the best choice in the heat. 

Reduced Muscle Oscillation:  

(Stopping micro damage caused to the muscle by shake on impact)

Every time you move your muscles move too.  When they do small tears appear within the muscle tissue.  The presence of these tears along with the build up of lactic acid is what causes muscle pain both during and post exercise.   By reducing the rate at which this damage takes place we are able to work for longer and experience less pain following training.  The principle behind stopping body shake is old and probably the best example is the wearing of sports bras by woman.  Now with the elastic properties of compression garments we are able to provide the same sort of support for the rest of your body.  This is the reason that your garments must be firm fitting and appropriate for your sport or activity. 

Increased Circulation:  

(Increased blood flow means faster delivery of nutrients to the muscle, and a quicker removal of waste products)

This is the main benefit that is advertised by manufacturers and they all have their claims around the performance of the garments.  The reason for this is that increased circulation is what is claimed to give you benefits in performance.  By speeding up blood flow you get food to your muscles faster and remove waste products such as lactic acid more efficiently.  This means that you should experience a higher level of performance and faster recovery times when wearing the garments post exercise.  This in turn will let you train harder in your next session.  

It is worth pointing out that in this case often you are getting better performance from garments that have a higher price tag as more money has been put into the research and design of the product.  You will see garments with features such as graduated compression (meaning that they are tighter at the extremities) and compartmental compression (meaning that they are tighter in certain areas), there are both positive and negative outcomes form these features and keep in mind that it is not always hard science that determines the design of this clothing.  We will not get technical about these features here but suggest that if it is performance increases that you are looking for consult a coach or exercise professional before parting with your hard earned money and get what is best for your specific needs.

What we will say is that often this is the feature that benefits the wearer the least for there purpose but is often the deciding factor in price so please think carefully about what it is you wish the garments to do for you.

Increased Proprioception:  

(Helping your body to know where it is in space)

Your bodies proprioceptors help you to know where your arm is in relation to your body or you foot in relation to the ground.  By having a garment that is effectively a second skin you are heightening these senses.  This is achieved through the contact with the skin and the elastic properties of the fabric.  This is the same principle used by medical professionals when they apply strapping or a compression bandage to a joint injury, not only do they add support but they help you to become more aware of your range of movement.  It is important to point out that this feature is often not even thought about, but studies done on compression clothing have sited this as one of the key reasons for the participants increase in performance.  It is also going to help prevent injury.

Increased Muscle Power Output: 

(Delivered by the elastic and supportive properties of the fabric) 

We quickly touch on this because there have been studies done, and claims are made that the stretch in the fabric will help with power output, by aiding the stretch reflex / shortening cycle.  It is important to point out that the garments used in these studies were similar to the super suits worn by elite athletes and that the fabrics were much heavier and provided significantly greater levels of compression than those designed to be worn everyday and that are available through your local sports store.

Fashionable and Concealing:

(Some garments are designed specifically with appearance in mind)
 
When buying a garment it is important to us all how it looks and some companies do a better job with this than others but we encourage you to keep performance in mind and do not treat all garments as equal, especially when it comes to durability.

However some of the benefits that compression clothing can provide are listed below;

• Comfortable to wear
• Hides imperfections (scars, etc.)
• Maintains an image
• You can feel your muscles working
• Gives you increased confidence

We hope that you have found the information on this page useful.  For further details and studies please see the info / articles page or contact us directly with your questions.