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July 28, 2010

Do Compression Shorts Really Work?

Hi, Bill:What do you think of compression shorts that claim to help remove the build up of lactic acid during training? ... Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? - Allan

Hi, Allan: I’m not familiar with all brands of compression sportswear, but I can vouch for the products made by the Australian company Skins. The company’s compression garments appear to work as advertised.

These days, clean athletes look for anything that will give them an edge in the sometimes dirty sports world, and many find compression garments, which are legal, helpful.

Among elite athletes who swear by Skins are two of New Zealand’s top skaters, Kalon Dobbin and my daughter, Nicole. (Skins is one of my daughter’s sponsors.)  Kalon and Nicole have found the Skins garments particularly helpful in speeding up recovery time.

Skins claims that its compression garments increase blood flow and oxygen circulation to muscles and hasten lactic acid removal. And studies appear to back these claims.

High-quality compression wear is pricey. But if that doesn’t bother you, you might want to give it a try.

Cheers, Bill

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