Lately, there has been a lot of hype in the athletic community
about compression gear, such as socks. But, there has also been a lot of
confusion. What everyone wants to know is simply, “do compression socks really
work?” The answer - Yes.
While studies thus far have offered many contradictions as to the
details surrounding the benefits, by and large what has become clear is that
athletes feel a difference when they use compression apparel. Many have cited
advantages such as speedy post-workout recoveries and maximized performance
thanks to compression socks. Bonus, they look really professional.
This might be enough to convince you, but for the skeptics -
let’s have a look at the facts.
Compression Socks in
Action
Rather than relying on the perplexing and scarce information
available, Elmarie Terblanche, a professor of Sports and Physiology at
Stellenbosch University in South Africa, recently decided to go forth with her
own first-hand research. What she found was enough to convince her.
Terblanche studied athletes running in South Africa’s Two Oceans
ultra-race. Some of the runners wore regular knee-high socks, others wore
nothing, and some wore their trusty compression socks. What she observed was a
significant difference in performance between those wearing the gear, and those
who were not. The participants wearing
compression socks outran their competitors, averaging at 12 minutes faster!
Moreover, they reported much less muscle damage and saw quicker
recoveries.
The Science is There
That compression socks can enhance your athletic performance is
far from delusion. Despite the fact that the research can often seem
unreliable, the science is indisputable.
Here are some straight-forward facts to consider.
1. That compression increases blood-flow is a validated medical
theory that has been in practice for decades. In this time, doctors have been
using graduated compression socks to combat deep vein thrombosis, and the
formation of blood clots. The gear has been proven highly-effective with
immobile patients, especially. By the same token, using compression gear
post-exercise can accelerate the removal of metabolic waste while replenishing
substances required to rebuild the muscle.
2. By optimizing blood-flow and oxygen intake, as compression
gear does, symptoms of fatigue can have a slower onset. This means an athlete
should be able to go harder, for longer, without becoming sluggish. This
hypothesis has been supported by some studies.
Pro-Athletes Are All In
Compression gear is the best kind of trend - it’s practical, and
beneficial.
Champion distance-runner Chris Solinksy broke records while
wearing compression socks two seasons ago. For him, its all about the
post-workout benefits: “I found I was able to come off the workouts much, much
quicker.”
Redskins Quarterback Robert Griffin III has said that he simply
“feels faster” in his compression gear.
It all comes down to how compression gear can make an athlete
feel.
Ultimately, the allegations that the benefits may not be
fully-proven can be largely brushed off by the anecdotal evidence and the
supporting science.
No comments:
Post a Comment