The Benefits of Compression Wear in the Workplace
Compression garments are the future of work underwear and now they are becoming more affordable to your business through NZ Compression. Please read on to find out how compression wear can reduce the risks of injury and increase productivity. For a quote or further information please email; michael@nzcompression.co.nz.1. Enhanced Thermoregulation
Features:
Compression Garments are manufactured from fabrics that will wick moisture away from the skin. This process aids the body’s natural cooling system making evaporation more efficient. They are also designed to be close fitting meaning that unlike a t-shirt they will not allow perspiration to pool on the body. This means that worn alone on a hot day you will keep cooler than if naked and worn as a thermal garment under other clothing on a cold day they will keep you warm and dry at the core.
Benefits:
Our body’s muscles as well as our mind work best when at the optimum temperature. When kept here we are less likely to injure and will be more productive in our activity. We stay alert and well focused and most importantly happy. Unlike a thermal garment compression wear dry’s quickly so will not make you cold once wet and will not become wet from perspiration. This key feature will keep workers both more comfortable and more productive.
2. Reduced Muscle Oscillation
Features:
The tight fitting nature of compression garments helps to reduce the damage caused by muscle oscillation (muscle shake). On movement and impact our muscles move, with this movement comes micro tears within the muscle. These small tears are part of what cause muscle soreness and fatigue. By reducing the amount of movement we reduce the amount of tears therefore reducing the rate of damage and fatigue.
Benefits:
A reduced rate of micro tears means a longer period of time working before fatigue starts to set in. It also means that on returning to work the following day you will have a reduced amount of muscle soreness. Not only does this make work more enjoyable but it also increases your ability to work. Where there is pain there is damage and damage means that the muscle cannot be worked to its full potential. Therefore by reducing the rate of muscle damage we can have a direct effect on the productivity of the worker. Not to mention that they will be a lot happier.
3. Ultra Violet Protection
Features:
With UV ratings of around 50+ compression garments will protect your skin from the sun as well as other elements. Due to the cooling nature of lighter colored garments you are able to wear these in hot conditions and cover your whole body and amazingly stay more comfortable while protecting yourself from the sun.
Benefits:
New Zealanders are around four times more likely to develop skin cancer than those living in the US, Canada and the UK and much of this is caused by over exposure to the sun. As responsible employers we should be giving our employees as much protection from the sun as possible. Due to the fact that compression wear actually aids the body’s cooling system these garments are an obvious choice for wearing in sun exposed areas.
4. Increased Circulation
Features:
When you hear brands talking about performance benefits from wearing there products it is the increased circulation that they provide that is delivering these benefits. By applying pressure to certain areas in the body compression garments can help to encourage and increase the rate of blood flow. This means that a muscle will receive nutrients more efficiently and will move waste products faster.
Benefits:
By aiding with better delivery of food and faster removal of waste (such as lactic acid) compression garments help the physically active person to work more efficiently for longer and reduce the amount of soreness experienced after work periods. The garments worn after activity will also help to quicken recovery meaning less DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and a faster return to normal operation the following day. The performance increases experience will also lead to fewer occurrences of injury and burnout.
5. Increased Visibility
Features:
Many of the compression garments that are available today can be manufactured in bright colors such as red, orange and yellow. In many workplaces high visibility is important. The fact that these garments will cover more of the body than say a singlet means more fabric to be seen.
Benefits:
High visibility is important to ensure a safe workplace and these garments can help you to achieve that. Not only this but printing on an arm or leg that will show from underneath the outer layer will provide a better form of recognition and advertising than a small logo placed on the chest.
6. Heightened Proprioception
Features:
The body’s propreioceptors allow us to know where parts of our body are in relation to others. This sense helps us with coordination and helps to prevent injuries such as a sprained ankle. By stretching a fabric tight across our body we give our proprioceptors more to work with and there fore and increase amount of information will be delivered to the brain.
Benefits:
By heightening our proprioception tasks such as hitting a nail or balancing on a beam become easier. In the work place this will equal fewer injuries and better productivity.
7. Increased Comfort
Features:
With features such as the ones above as well as an antibacterial treatment flat-lock stitching and cuts designed to work with your body you will be much more comfortable wearing these garments than a regular thermal, t-shirt or jersey.
Benefits:
A more comfortable workforce means a happier workforce and that translates through to better staff management relations and much better productivity.