The difference may be small but it sure is mighty...
The application of compression to sports has two essential aspects; performance and recovery. Performance happens in competition or training, and recovery happens before and after performance. You can’t have one without the other. Working muscles gain mass from blood, and if you apply too much pressure or in the wrong place, you can impede performance. Due to this, the graduated compression levels applied to the working muscles in our performance garments are different from our recovery lines.
PERFORMANCE
It has been proven in several independent, published peer-reviewed medical journals that SKINS Compression Sportswear provides natural performance enhancement, which helps athletes perform better and recover faster. Whether you're a weekend runner or a seasoned pro - SKINS™ are for anyone looking to improve. Our garments are technically designed and scientifically engineered to enhance performance in several ways. Including but not limited to enhanced technique and posture, improved circulation and reduced energy cost.
Another way in which SKINS improve performance is by reducing fatigue from impact damage. This is done through advanced, complex and targeted panelling. When we run and move, our muscles vibrate. The carefully positioned panelling wraps your muscles, in just the right way, which reduces vibration and muscle oscillation. Muscle oscillation is the movement of the muscles when vibrations occur. By stabilising these muscles, SKINS Compression Sportswear battles early fatigue and optimises neurotransmission, which, in turn, improves performance.
SKINS compression also assists proprioception. Proprioception is the perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body. As well as that, SKINS also reduce the risk of injury. If we’re injured, we can’t perform. As we get tired, the body’s movement can become distorted, and irregular movement, increased by more than 10%, dramatically enhances the risk of injury. By supporting the working muscles, SKINS help keep everything, including you, on track.
RECOVERY
SKINS Compression is as much about recovery as it is performance. Muscles get broken down during exercise and need repairing. If you don’t allow your muscles to repair fully, you will likely cause yourself injury.
The graduated compression levels we apply to the working muscles with our performance garments are different from our recovery garments. Working muscles gain mass from blood, and if you were to apply too much pressure or in the wrong place, you could impede performance.
Recovery is about applying the correct amount of pressure to passive muscles. These muscles need compression to help the flow of oxygen, which in turn, accelerates repair. Oxygen is carried throughout our bodies by our blood which travels faster through narrow veins. Applying compression narrows our veins which then increases the blood flow rate to the muscles. Whilst our oxygenated blood is pumping throughout our bodies, it picks up waste lactic acid buildup on its way. This process is what helps relieve soreness. In short, Compression Sportswear like SKINS help take away the negative products built up from exercise and deliver blood efficiently while travelling, recuperating or sleeping.
We know most athletes don’t like sitting around doing nothing for too long, we’re the same, and sometimes that means recovery isn’t taken seriously enough.
Our recovery garments should be worn for at least 3-5 hours post-exercise and ideally whilst travelling and sleeping. Yes, that’s right. Sleep is a natural regenerative process that is assisted by wearing recovery compression. It might not be sexy, but it works.
You can find recovery Compression Sportswear in all of our new SERIES ranges but if you’re struggling to decide what’s best for you and your sport, check out our SKINS by Sport guide.
