Best Fitness Blog

... By Karli Taylor

One of the newer buzzwords in the fitness clothing industry is “compression”. From socks to swimsuits, compression gear is slowing taking over the shelves. Recently, there have been many different claims made by various companies about the advantages of this type of clothing- some of which have more validity than others. Let’s take a look at the two real benefits of these tight fitting clothing garments.

Regulating body temperature: 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, you won’t get perspiration collecting 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.

Reduction in excess muscle movement: Compression clothing prevents your muscles from shaking or vibrating upon impact. Every time you move, your muscles move too. When they do small tears appear within the muscle tissue. 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.

You will find other claims surrounding compression clothing. Some companies claim that it increases blood flow to the muscles. Some claim that it will increase the power output of your muscles or increase your stamina. None of these claims have been studied thoroughly enough for me to confidently support them, so I’ll leave the jury out for now.