Buying Recovery Wear: Everything That You Should Know
Have you seen the tight, vibrant colored socks in runners' legs during a race or the patterned black sleeves on guys overhead pressing barbells? Of course, you have. And if you have not, then you are surely missing out. These high-tech fitness gears are worn by sports stars and professional athletes around the globe.
But what is the idea behind wearing these clothes? Could they help you in any way, or is it just for fashion? Can recovery wear help you in the long run, or will it be a wise decision to invest in such clothes? You can have a bundle of questions. Here we have tried to answer these one-by-one. Read on -
What is a recovery wear?
Marked as a type of magical second skin, recovery wear is popular nowadays. Generally made of a flexible, elastic material like spandex or Lycra, the pieces are skin-tight.
The idea is to compress your muscles to improve circulation by squeezing blood back toward the heart. Moreover, it helps remove toxins, boost performance and reduce recovery time.
Different types of recovery garments for various situations are available nowadays. Choose the proper clothing and ensure a fast recovery.
What is the science behind recovery gear?
Well, the science behind recovery wear is fascinating. When you wear a piece of clothing that is tighter than regular pants, sleeves, or socks, the clothing causes a tightening force on the muscles, as well as internal tissues on the limb or body part. And this pressure improves blood flow instantly.
Does it seem counterintuitive? Squeezing veins and arteries cause the blood flow to slow down. However, what really happens by putting external pressure on the walls of these structures is that the blood flow increases. It is pushed along more forcefully. What it means for your performance is that your muscles are given a little boost.
Who needs these garments?
There are different types of people who need hand or leg recovery wear. There is a common myth that recovery wear is designed for aged and injured people. But it is actually not so. These garments are used for -
- Elderly individuals
- Pregnant mothers
- Frequent travelers
- Varicose veins
- Edema buildup
- Ankle swelling
- Athlete's
- Post-surgery to prevent blood clots
- Individuals working on their feet or sitting for long periods
Do you fall into one of these categories? Then, you may benefit from having and using recovery wear. Consult with your health care physician. If they suggest you use a recovery garment, find a perfect one and start using it.
How does recovery clothing work (in theory)?
Theoretically, compression garments help athletes by doing the following -
During exercise
- The compression boosts blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues and makes exercise more efficient and less tiring.
- The garments increase proprioception (awareness of the body in space). It improves posture and movement.
After exercise
- The compression acts almost like a low-level massage. By putting pressure on muscles, it lowers delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
- These garments raise the temperature of the skin and tissues to boost the blood flow and thus, promote healing.
Let's explore the theories in detail -
Theory 1: They help performance during exercise
According to recent research, the supposed benefits for performance are mostly unexplored. A review of studies involving runners wearing recovery clothing found no statistically significant improvement in performance. The speed and stamina of runners were unaffected by wearing compression clothing. Individual studies have shown that small performance gains, but when taken as a whole, experts say the evidence is limited and inconclusive.
Theory 2: They boost recovery after exercise
When you were recovery closing after a workout, it offers significant relief from muscle swelling. Besides, they can increase the chances of muscle tissue recovery.
Experts said that it is hard to come t a conclusion about the effectiveness of compression gear from various studies. It is because there are many variables for each study. For instance, the kind of exercise performed, the kind of clothes was worn, the types of measures that were used as indicators of recovery or performance, etc.
Effective ways recovery wear can help you during exercises
Life can get busy. So, it is vital to make the most of your exercise time. Apart from choosing a nice gym, an experienced trainer, and a pair of sneakers, wearing suitable recovery wear can help you a lot.
Wearing recovery clothing can offer better support and stabilize your body parts as you train. During the exercise, the recovery garments will incorporate pressure into your muscles and support strain. This pressure improves blood circulation that supports the recovery pressure as you exercise.
Although these types of clothes are skin-tight, they are breathable. Many gears are designed to allow air circulation, help the users to stay cool during exercise.
- Lower muscle soreness
Wearing compression garments helps eliminate muscle soreness and fatigue. And the effect does not only happen when you wear them during exercise, but it lasts after your workouts. So, you can perform better for a longer duration. Moreover, wearing compression garments can help prevent or delay the onset of muscle soreness.
Wearing recovery wear helps speed up the process of rebuilding the muscles after exercising. These clothes reduce muscle fatigue and boost blood pressure that is great for healing broken muscle tissue along with rebuilding muscles. Moreover, the tightness of these products can ease swelling quicker.
Working out is a good time to relax, and wearing recovery clothing can make exercises more enjoyable. When you wear these clothes, they will apply pressure onto your skin. Besides, these clothes cause less friction when compared to traditional attire.
As recovery gear is mainly made of nylon or polyester-related materials, these can help you dry faster after you sweat. Instead of repealing the water, they lift the water upward from the fabric. For this, the sweat can be brought to the surface of the clothing for evaporation.
Having low perceived exertion means less effort is required for a workout. For individuals who love extreme sports or endurance races, you will understand the importance of low-perceived exertion. Endurance runners who wear compression garments have an improved perceived exertion and find their training or exercise more bearable.
In the era when everyone wants to show off on a social media account, you would also like to show your sporty look on social media, and beautiful sportswear is critical. Recovery clothes are great for those who want to show off their physique when looking confident as they work out. If you have successfully built some muscles, recovery clothes can help define those muscles.
What happens when you don't have recovery gears?
People are often in two minds when in cones to buying recovery clothing. But it can cause several potential consequences, including the ones mentioned below -
When you are advised to wear recovery wear but you choose not to wear it, clots can form. The pressure that is applied with this garment cause blood to circulate and keeps it from pooling and from clotting.
Another great consequence of not wearing recovery clothes is enlarged limbs and infections. Without these garments to boost the blood flow, the affected area can quickly get worse.
A consequence that you can never ignore! When you don't use this clothing to keep the blood moving, you can have a heart attack or failure.
How to find the right recovery gears for you?
When you are about to buy recovery garments and wondering how to find the right one, consider these factors -
Recovery clothes are measured and fitted to match your shape, size, and medical condition. The fit, length, cut, force, stretch are some of the things that decide how well the stockings will reduce your swelling. The clothes should be strong enough to contract the veins. And thus, return blood flow to the heart instead of your feet.
Perhaps there is something more going on with your limbs than varicose veins. Phlebitis, edema, or even thrombosis can be to blame. Pre-made compression garments are made in a lab by using a wooden model, not a human leg. So, you should meet a clinician so that he or she can evaluate your condition properly.
There are various names that you will come in contact with while looking for elbow sleeves or beanies. But all of them don't have a huge collection or don't have a reputation in this field. For this, you should search for a brand that has a good reputation and offer quality products at affordable prices.
Bottom line
It is time to equip yourself with the right recovery gear. These will not only protect you from any unwanted injuries but also improve your physique. Do you want to buy comfortable and stylish recovery wear for you or your family member but wondering where to start? Incrediwear is there to help you with the best quality products. Explore our products and buy now!
