Compression sportswear is clothing usually worn by athletes. They may be shorts, tights or underwear. They are form-fitting garments and when worn cover the athlete's waist to mid or lower thigh. These garments are often made from a spandex-type material.
The main benefits of compression sportswear is that it keeps the muscles warm to prevent muscle strain and fatigue, and wick sweat away from the body to prevent chafing and rashes. In addition, there is some evidence that compression shorts may enhance athletic performance.[1] Compression sportswear also helps to keep undergarments in place, and for certain sports, like baseball and softball, come with padding at the hips to protect players from injuries due to sliding.
There are many types of compression garments that serve a similar function, such as compression t-shirts, socks, sleeves & tights. Common brands are COMPRESSPORT, Nike, Under Armour, Skins, McDavid, Easton, Zensah, and Adidas.
More recently, jockstraps have fallen out of favor with young male athletes, and garments such as compression shorts have seen an increase in popularity, arguably because of their comparable function and less embarrassing looks.[2]
Compression shorts are also popular among female athletes, especially among those who wear skirts or kilts during games. In those situations, athletes wear compression shorts under the skirt so if they fall over and their skirts ride up, their underwear will not be exposed. This is seen particularly in women's lacrosse and field hockey, both being no-contact sports in which players often wear skirts. In this situation, compression shorts are often referred to as spandex shorts, the material they are often manufactured with.
The alleged benefits of wearing compression tights are:
These factors allow an athlete to increase both the duration and intensity of training and competition.
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