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It’s a must-have for every athlete, but what exactly is compression and why do the world’s leading athletes swear by it for training, performance and recovery? The benefits stack up.
The term “compression” is widely misunderstood. Often compression is thought to be any tight-fitting sports gear, which often provides limited benefit beyond making your legs look great.
True graduated compression has a direct and significant impact on training and performance, and an even greater impact on recovery. To be effective, compression needs to be firm enough to wrap the muscles and hold them in place during activity. This helps prevent muscle movement and micro-tears that can cause soreness and fatigue. When it comes to recovery, graduated compression is key – the graduation helps stimulate blood circulation for faster muscle repair and return to form.
Before exercise
Graduated compression actively encourages and increases venous return to the heart and lymph nodes to increase overall circulation, which promotes faster muscle warm-up for optimal flexibility and efficiency.
During exercise
When exercising, muscles and tendons are exposed to vibration, a major cause of muscle fatigue, soreness and damage. Compression helps align and hold muscles in place to reduce muscle oscillation and limit the risk of muscle strains and tears, allowing greater endurance, power output and performance. Compression applies the appropriate pressure to the skin’s receptors to heighten proprioception for improved reflex movement, body positioning and muscle coordination for greater performance.
Post exercise
Tired, sore, burning muscles – sound familiar? Lactic acid build-up in the muscles and blood after a heavy training session or a big race can lead to serious soreness, sometimes lasting for a number of days.
Compression helps increase blood circulation and push de-oxygenated blood back up to the heart and lungs. The removal of blood lactate from increased circulation reduces swelling and soreness, and speeds up muscle repair to restore the body to its peak in the fastest possible time.
Not all compression is created equal. 2XU is considered the world’s most advanced compression technology, and for good reason. The difference comes down to fabric selection and the engineering of the product itself.
2XU delivers a unique fabric combination that is light, flexible, powerful and durable. 2XU compression is medically engineered to offer true graduated compression — the degree of pressure throughout the garment is carefully designed to deliver physiological benefits via increased blood flow to the heart.
Before 2XU sells a product, the fabric is tested at three different locations to ensure it’s delivering the correct amount of power for its athletic purpose. 2XU partners with the world’s leading research institutions – including the AIS in Canberra and RMIT University in Melbourne – to develop cutting-edge products.
Dr Shona Halson, Senior Recovery Physiologist at the AIS, says the choice is clear.
“At the AIS we support and develop some of the world’s finest athletes. To perform at their best, they need the right equipment to attain sporting success. 2XU leads the way when it comes to compression garments, so we’re assured that our athletes are using the best product available to transform their performance and recovery.”
Usually, it’s a classic case of getting what you pay for. However, for a limited time only, all Goodlife Health Clubs members can shop 30% OFF 2XU Sitewide* via THIS link:
Partner Offer T&Cs: 30% off your total order, excluding full price MCS compression and all Custom product. Includes all other full price and outlet products onsite. Valid until 11.59pm AEDT 03/11/2019 via the supplied URL only. 30% Off discount applied at the cart and checkout. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, coupons or promotions. Cannot be redeemed in-store. Coupon code may be extended or changed at 2XU’s discretion. For all 2XU conditions please visit: http://www.2xu.com/au/terms-and-conditions.html
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