For hundreds of years, doctors have been using compression to reduce swelling from the inflammatory process. Compression has become a staple in activewear clothing for athletes everywhere. First, let’s understand how blood flows through the body to see the impact of compression fabric. Our hearts pump oxygenated blood to our extremities and working muscles through arteries. Once our cells use the oxygen and nutrients from the blood, the now deoxygenated blood enters the veins to get taken back to the heart. When the blood gets back to the heart, it’s oxygenated from the lungs, and the process repeats. So as we can see, keeping oxygenated blood flowing throughout our muscles is important for athletic performance! The more oxygen in our cells means better muscle function. Not only do we need as much oxygen in our cells but our body also produces lactic acid as a waste product during exercise. If this lactic acid is not removed from the muscles, it contributes to that soreness that we all try to avoid! With that understanding in mind, we can turn to the advantages of compression fabric on our performance. Compression clothing conforms exactly to the body’s shape while the stretch fabric adds a small amount of pressure to the skin. Studies continue to find that wearing this tight, spandex fabric increases blood flow. It can be by as much as 40% during activity and up to 30% during recovery! The increased blood flow means more oxygen in our cells in the focused muscles groups to keep them at peak performance! Compression helps increase muscle power and stamina, reduce fatigue, and speed up muscle recovery. Before, doctors would recommend and prescribe compression socks, sleeves, etc. to help patients with blood flow issues. Today, compression apparel is everywhere due to its ability to increase performance during many activities. These compression fabrics used in activewear support the major muscle groups, allowing them to function more efficiently and recover faster. These types of fabrics not only help in athletic support but also treats Deep Vein Thrombosis and offers pregnancy support as well. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines deep vein thrombosis as a condition in which a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, particularly in your legs. This can cause pain and create discomfort in daily life. In this case, Serena had postpartum blood clots and now uses compression garments, like her bodysuit, to help improve her circulation on and off the court. The compression fabric used in garments can treat deep vein thrombosis by preventing swelling. The pressure created by the compression tight can also help reduce the chances that your blood will pool and clot. Another way compression helps is during and after pregnancy. A common complaint of pregnancy is being tired. This complaint alongside having swollen, achy feet and legs can make for many issues. The added baby weight can cause leg problems, like varicose veins, circulation problems, pain, and edema. Compression tights can help relieve some of these symptoms. Compression garments will increase circulation by supporting the blood in your legs against the additional force of gravity with the added weight to get the blood back up to your heart and upper body. We can all perform better and recover faster with our understanding of the advantages of compression fabric. Check out our products below to get started on all your compression fabric needs! Check out our performance wear fabrics board to get inspiration for your next collection!
Advantages of Compression Fabric
Basics of Blood Flow
Compression Fabric
Additional Benefits
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