We’ve been so spoiled for choice with sporting tournaments of late, with Wimbledon, the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific games coming up in a few weeks.
What I have noticed across all these events is a rise in the number of athletes wearing compression garments. It was also evident to me when we took part in the Kanga Cup in Canberra earlier this month.
Looking further into it I found that sales of compressions gear have jumped by 170 percent in three years!! So, what’s all the hype about? Is the advertising correct when it claims that compression pants “focus your muscles’ energy to generate maximum explosive power, acceleration and long-term endurance or deliver increased power and stamina.”
Before becoming a fad in sports apparel, compression garments were used to treat (generally older) patients suffering from poor circulation, by applying pressure that improves blood flow in the veins. If you’re not a senior citizen though, and your sporting goals are higher than simply shuffling along, compression gear isn’t going to make you more mobile. Various studies have also shown that they don’t improve endurance or muscle power.
Athletes in these studies however have noticed one very helpful benefit—they felt better the day after a long run (for example) in compression tights. While researchers weren’t sure about what the athletes reported, they speculated that increased blood flow helped restock the muscles with their fuel, glycogen.
In one Australian study the scientists speculated that compression could aid recovery by helping to clear metabolic waste. Is the improvement in recovery worth the $60 or more that some of these compression socks and tights will set you back though? It depends on your level and frequency of activity. If you’re an athlete who depends on recovery in order to train the next day, there appears to be a benefit to buying them. Let’s not forget other, possibly more important, recovery strategies though.
1. Replace fluids
2. Eat a well balanced diet
3. Stretch
4. Rest
5. Active recovery
6. Adequate (high quality) sleep
7. Avoid overtraining
Todd says
Hey Julie,
I completed an assignment at uni on compression garments when studying Exercise and Sport Science. My lecturer, a professor, had done extensive testing in many different sports, testing any benefits that they might give. Compression garments are used best after strenuous physical activity. They do promote blood flow which in turn does make you recover a little quicker. During sport, they do not do anything at all. Maybe a placebo effect on the athlete but nothing scientific. The muscles that recover best with compression garments are the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterier (calf muscles and shin). These muscles have the poorest blood flow have the hardest job to get blood back to the heart. Even then recovery is only helped by about 7%-10%. You pretty much nailed it with the other recovery methods! Good blog