The appearance of of compression clothing on the fitness scene has been an explosive one. You only have to spend a couple of minutes in Richmond or Bushy Park, to see numerous people running and working out wearing the latest compression leggings.
So, what is it that makes us buy them? Well to start with, the professionals wear them! If they use them, then surely they are good for you right? They are also good for recovery and circulation so much improve our performance. Not many of us actually know what our compression clothing does! Yet we are more than happy to shell out big bucks for them.
What Does the Research Say About Compression Clothing?
There is actually a limited amount of research on the topic. However, what’s out there does show some positive results. So far compression clothing has been shown to have the following effects on the body:
- Improved joint awareness
- Improved blood flow
- Improve waste product removal
- Decrease muscle soreness
Despite the lack of research, they have shown some positive effects on performance and recovery. These finding may only be small, but at the end of the day improvement is improvement. Why wouldn’t you give yourself the best recovery you can?
Ultimately there is nothing to say the they don’t work, or that they have a negative effect on the body. If you feel they give you that little bit extra, then go ahead and wear them. Performance can often comes down to the little extras, the little things you do to aid recovery, or to push little bit harder. If you feel like you have exhausted all methods of recovery but still suffer from crippling DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness), grab a pair and give it a go.
To read a full review of the research into compression clothing, have a look at this article from Science for Sport – Here