Myths About Compression Wear

Compression wear has become increasingly more common these days. However, myths about compression garments abound as well. In this article, we will dismantle some of the myths about these clothes.

Only Pros Wear Compression Gear

You may see many pros wearing compression wear, but you can benefit from wearing compression gear even if you’re not one. In fact, anyone who wants to improve their performance can wear compression gear.

Wearing compression sleeves on certain body parts can help reduce vibrations, muscle damage and fatigue. Compression sleeves can also delay muscle soreness and improve performance.

If you wear compression gear after a physical activity, it can aid in muscle recovery because it allows more oxygen to the compressed areas. Not only that, it eliminates toxins faster and prevents swelling.

You don’t need a doctor’s recommendation. So, whether you are a pro athlete, an average competitor, or an occasional gym goer, you can benefit from compression gear.

You Can Use Any Compression Gear At Any Time For Any Situation

Your body needs different types of attention during various stages of your workout. For this reason, different types of compression products are available. For example, you may want compression gear that reduces the risk of injuries during workouts.

After workouts, you may want compression gear that maintains snug compression on muscles that are more prone to being sore.

If you’re nursing a sore calf muscle but want to get back to running, you may want to wear a compression sleeve on your calf during your run to minimize vibrations. It is important to pay attention to the type of compression product you buy for particular needs.

It never hurts to do a little research before investing in compression gear so that you make sure you buy what’s right for your needs.

 It’s Too Hot for Compression Gear

Compression products are usually made with light, breathable material so that you can wear them regardless of the temperature outside. Most compression gear are designed to be supportive but to also be beneficial, regardless of the temperature.

The materials they are made of optimize thermoregulation and allow air to circulate through the fabric, which protects against overheating. Most compression wear is also dry-wicking, which means it helps pull the sweat and moisture off your body.

This reduces the possibility of your skin blistering and protects against fungal infections. The material is also super easy to wash and will dry quickly, so that you can use it again right away.

Science Doesn't Back It Up

Several recent analyses based on 40 scientific studies on compression do show that compression clothes does improve athletes’ performance and recovery when used appropriately, regardless of the sport.

Some studies have been published that show that compression clothes does not have positive effects. However, possible reasons may be that the compression clothing is not suitable. Perhaps it was too strong or too weak. This would skew the data and reflect inconsistent results.

The bottom line is that the use of proper compression gear that fits appropriately and is used for the correct phase of workout (before, during, or after workouts) will have positive results for the athlete.

Compression Does Not Reduce the Risk of Injury

While compression garments are not meant to prevent injuries, it can be used to minimize the risk of injuries. Studies available show that continuous use of compression gear during training and competitions reduce the risk of injury.

Compression clothing gives you better body control because it holds the muscles together better by reducing the vibrations when you run or jump. This means your body is using less energy holding itself together so that you can spend more energy on your body’s performance.

This focus on your body’s performance will help you be more aware of what you are doing. Hence, you are less likely to injure yourself. Since compression clothing tends to stabilize your muscles, you run less of a risk of injuring a compressed body part.

You Can’t Trust Compression Clothes

In the marketing world, the term “compression wear” is not a protected name. This means that many brands may tout the label of being a compression garment while in reality, that garment might just be super tight.

Just because a garment is very tight fitting does not necessarily make it “compression wear.” Actual compression clothes are made to specifically fit certain parts of the body.

For example, undergarments for men that are compression garments will be shaped to fit the male body in all the right places. This is similar for calves, thighs, arms and elbows - or anywhere else you might wear a compression sleeve.

Compression wear for calves will fit at the top of the calf to prevent slipping, will be snug over the curve of the calf in order to maintain appropriate compression and will be snug at the bottom of the sleeve as well.

If you aren’t sure about whether a product marketed as “compression wear” actually works for compression, ask other people who wear compression gear to get their opinions on the best products out there.

Conclusion

Compression gear may have recently made its appearance in sports and athletic events, but it isn’t just a fad. Regardless of your level of fitness activity, you can benefit from the appropriate use of compression gear. Ask around and do some research to find what will work best for you.