The recent increased interest in a healthy lifestyle attracts more and more people to gyms, stadiums, bike paths and workout areas. Previously, non-professional athletes did not think much about equipment and clothing. Loose T-shirts, shorts or comfortable sweatpants - that's what they wore to the gym for training. However, not so long ago, many sports fans turned their attention to special wardrobe items that stimulate blood circulation and help to conduct training more productively and safely. A special category of equipment is compression clothing, which exerts balanced pressure on a particular muscle group.
Benefits and main functions
Compression clothing was initially introduced into medical practice as an aid for diseases of the joints, blood vessels and musculoskeletal system. Without it, the body's recovery after many operations will take much longer. Special stockings are prescribed to women as a means of rehabilitation after a cesarean section, socks and knee-highs save men during long flights and when working standing.
The special purpose of compression clothing gives it a number of advantages over conventional cotton sportswear:
- its fibers are lighter than cotton fabric;
- "Compression" fits tighter around the body, providing better muscle support;
- has an increased degree of wearability due to the presence of particularly strong, highly elastic fabrics;
- warms up muscles perfectly;
- stimulates blood flow, improves blood circulation;
- promotes the evaporation of moisture leaving the body;
- maintains a stable body temperature due to its thermoregulatory properties;
- is an excellent conductor of air;
- relieves muscle tension, protecting against possible cramps;
- muscles do not become clogged because lactic acid does not accumulate in them;
- prevents swelling;
- impregnated with a special antibacterial composition, due to which it provides reliable protection against microbes;
- the seams are treated in a special way, so they do not rub or cause discomfort;
- prevents the formation of corns and calluses;
- is an active shield against ultraviolet radiation.
Compression sportswear saves from thrombosis, varicose veins, injuries. In addition, training becomes more productive, as the blood flowing to the muscles is saturated with oxygen. The pulse decreases, easing the cardiac load, while simple clothing does not have such an effect.
Possible harm
There are opinions about the harm of compression underwear, but this is more related to non-compliance with the rules for using this type of clothing. For example, a conscientious manufacturer always indicates the washing temperature of its product. If you wash compression stockings, rashguard, sleeves or leggings in hot water, they will lose elasticity and other special properties. This will be ordinary clothing, so you cannot wash compression at a temperature above 35 C.
Compression hosiery reduces muscle pain, stabilizes the pulse, and lowers blood pressure. However, all this beneficial effect can be crossed out by thrombosis, which appears from long-term wearing of clothes. Constant compression will not only “relax” the muscles and facilitate their work, but also provoke the formation of blood clots.
Compression clothing for training is not recommended for the following categories of patients:
- diabetics;
- smokers;
- people with poor circulation;
- patients with dermatoses, dermatitis, open wounds or skin hypersensitivity.
When to wear
Compression underwear, leggings, knee-highs and T-shirts are recommended for prolonged increased physical activity, for example, during competitions, marathons and other sporting events. Usually, when overloaded, muscles "ache", special clothing can relieve this feeling and help a quick recovery.
Daily routine activities do not require constant wearing of "special form", because in a continuous state of compression the muscles will become lazy, as well as the blood vessels. The natural activity of tissues, veins and capillaries will be disrupted, which will be identical to the state of decompression.
There are also medical indications for wearing special sports underwear with a compression effect. Predisposition to varicose veins plus increased loads will clearly require support, additional compression of problem areas.
Modern medicine counts 4 classes of compression. The first, initial degree, allows the patient to choose clothes independently, since diseases related to this group require only prevention, and not serious treatment. The other three classes mean the impact, as well as protection of the body from such diseases as thromboangiitis, aortoarteritis, atherosclerosis, endarteritis. In these cases, a doctor's consultation is required.
If there are no serious contraindications, and regular training requires special clothing, then compression underwear, shorts, leggings, suits, knee-highs and socks are suitable for you. In addition, now in branded sports stores you can find many models and entire series, sets of compression clothing for anything.
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