Does compression clothing hinder certain aspects of exercise performance?
Power-lifters have long used extreme compression wraps around certain joints for stability and to enhance 1-rep max lifting capability. The levels of compression used in the new generation of compression clothing is much lower, but there exists the possibility that even small amounts of external resistance from this type of clothing could add to energy costs of higher rep and endurance exercise, and so hinder performance. To investigate this US scientists measured the external resistance produced by compression clothing during 3 sets of 50 knee extension/flexion movements and squatting at 70% of 1-rep max8. They concluded that the levels of compression typically provided by compression clothing were not detrimental to force production or to the energy costs during extended work in the muscles involved. In fact, the opposite may even be true as other studies have indicated that compression shorts and tights can assist the eccentric action of the opposing muscles (eg in the hamstrings wh
