Contents
What is the most important thing when doing sports? What provides the athlete with the safety of performing the exercise? What determines success at the start? Technology! It is the technique that is honed over the years, it is the technique that the judges track and it is the technique that makes the athlete follow the position of the joints, the setting of the legs, the clear movements of the hands, the head.
Why sports compression clothing was invented
But under intense loads and, especially, at competitions, the main task of the athlete is to maintain the pace, to reach the finish line, to break the record, to win. The temptation to break the technique is great. And least of all in these minutes, the athlete feels and is aware of changes in their physiological data. Therefore, with intensive types of loads, athletes move away from the ideal performance of the technique in favor of the result. But it is these violations that provoke the appearance of injuries.
Compression clothing is an athlete’s compression equipment, usually made of nylon and elastane, which sits on the body like a “second skin”, snugly fitting. Types of compression clothing: rashguard, compression shorts and pants, leg warmers, socks, sleeves.
Compression clothing was invented to support the muscles and, as a result, the joints. She:
- enhances the effect of proprioception;
- protects muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, supporting and fixing them in the correct position;
- it affects the neurons that give the brain a signal about the slightest wrong position.
The impact of sports compression clothing
1. On proprioception
Proprioception is the feeling and awareness of the position of your body in space. Thanks to this property of the body, we feel the pressure on the muscles, the angle of the position of the limbs, we are aware of the speed of movement of the joints. It is the compression clothing that allows you to subconsciously follow the correct technique, better feel the position of the joints and the setting of the legs, the movement of the hands, which ensures safe movement and prevents the appearance of offensive, absurd injuries.
2. For an inflammatory reaction
Inflammatory response – events following tissue damage that leads to edema and causes pain. Wearing compression clothing exerts external pressure on the body, which lowers osmotic pressure and reduces the space available for edema and hematoma.
3. On recovery
Compression clothing is used as a method to improve long-term and urgent recovery during training. As a 2013 study (Howatson G., van Someren K., Leeder J., Pedlar C., Compression garments and recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: a meta-analysis, 2013) showed, compression clothing clearly improves long-term recovery of muscle strength and power between training sessions, but urgent recovery is not confirmed or confirmed to a small extent of influence.
Protection and fixation of muscles in compression clothing
Compression clothing is most popular among athletes engaged in crossfit, triathlon, cycling, running, and game sports. During intense loads when running and jumping, the muscles begin to shake, losing static. As a result of what:
- there is an overexpenditure of energy;
- additional strain on tendons, ligaments, and joints;
- increased likelihood of injury.
Due to the tightening effect, compression clothing helps to keep the muscles in place, reduces the vibration of the muscles during dynamic activity, for example, during high jumps. Reducing muscle vibration during exercise is thought to reduce muscle fatigue and tissue damage.
Effects on neurons of compression clothing
The impact of compression clothing on neurons is the most controversial issue. It is he who is the basis of distrust of compression clothing. Our brain cells (neurons) transmit signals to each other using special substances called neurotransmitters – a kind of cell language.
When choosing between expensive compression clothing and inexpensive tight leggings, most athletes pay attention to the usual brands and fabrics.
Science takes part in the creation of compression clothing. And there are well-known brands that invest heavily in the science and development of high-tech fabrics. The ideal that all developers strive for is to provide a compression of the fabric equal to the stretch. Such clothes are difficult to wear, but it is she, according to scientists and developers, provides:
- the feeling of a ” second skin»;
- normalizes blood circulation, allowing the muscles to recover faster;
- it is such clothing that can affect neurons and make them transmit accurate information to the brain during heavy traffic;
- it has a massage effect, preventing the stagnation of blood in the extremities.
The main difficulty is that all the research conducted by developers in institutes is kept silent. No one wants to share their developments for fear of competition.
Selection of sports compression clothing
Anyway, compression sportswear is more convenient for intensive sports. The main thing, when buying and choosing, is to pay attention to:
- Convenience. The clothes must be exactly the size of the size.
- Flat seams. Due to the high tightening effect, bulging seams will irritate and rub the skin.
- Landing. The perfect fit of leggings, leggings, bicycles – a high fit.
- Sports discipline. For yoga, Pilates, stretching and stretching, it is better to choose cotton clothing. Compression is best used for high-intensity training.
We can definitely say that the tightening effect created by compression clothing has a positive effect on the sensations during training. But the effect on neurons and the restorative effect cannot be said for sure until scientific facts and studies are published. Focus on your feelings, pay more attention to comfort and then your training will be effective.