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A Runner's Guide to Wearing Compression Shorts

Many runners love the feeling of comfort and stability provided by compression shorts. What are the benefits, how do they work, and what's the right way to wear them?

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A Runner's Guide to Wearing Compression Shorts

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  1. A Runner's Guide to Wearing Compression Shorts

  2. Compression shorts offer unique benefits for runners. Adding a pair to your running gear repertoire can improve comfort and cut down on chafing, contributing to better performance. Some athletes even feel that compression shorts help reduce injury risk, stabilize joints, and boost their post-workout recovery.

  3. But a number of questions spring to the minds of runners: How do compression shorts work? How do you wear them? Is there a right and wrong way for running? What exactly are compression shorts? Let us help you cut to the heart of the matter.

  4. What Are Compression Shorts? Compression shorts are stretchy, elasticated shorts that contain a compression gradient to fit your body's form and apply pressure to your glutes, quads and hamstrings. Despite looking like regular athletic shorts, compression shorts have been engineered to apply mechanical pressure on the body to stabilize, support and compress. For this reason, they are popular with runners.

  5. The best compression shorts are made from a combination of polyester and spandex. These materials are durable, lightweight, sweat-wicking, and supportive. When you first put on compression shorts, they should feel tight. This is necessary. Loose-fitting shorts will not apply sufficient compression or offer you the intended benefits.

  6. What Are the Benefits of Compression for Runners? By putting pressure on your muscles, compression increases blood flow and sends more nutrients to your muscles, giving them more of what they need to perform at their best during strenuous activity. But compression may offer additional running benefits.

  7. Running in compression shorts makes you more aerodynamic. A streamlined silhouette created by smooth, tight-fitting shortsreduces drag. According to a landmarkstudy published in the Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise journal, “a small aerodynamic drag reduction" can result in a performance increase. This is particularly beneficial in high speed sports like running.

  8. The elasticity of compression shorts may also provide support for joint movements. Aclinical trial published in the Journal of Sports Science concluded that the elasticity of compression gear could increase flexion and extension torque and "assist the hamstrings in controlling the leg at the end of the swing phase in sprinting." The researchers also found that the compression shorts reduced impact force.

  9. This study highlights potential advantages offered by compression shorts. Joints are supported throughout movements to perform better, while impact force is reduced to limit the risk of injury. Finally, compression shorts help to regulate body temperature. For example, Nike Dri-FIT technology transfers moisture and sweat away from the skin toward the garment where it evaporates. 

  10. How Do Compression Shorts Work? Compression shorts exert gentle pressure on the underlying tissues. This pressure accelerates venous blood flow, which is the delivery of deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Blood going from the heart to the muscles is oxygenated and nutrient-packed, providing exactly what your muscles need during exercise. By improving circulation and blood flow, these shorts can result in better endurance, increased strength, and faster recovery.

  11. But what are the key mechanisms driving these benefits? Wearing shorts with compression may help: • Filter out lactic acid buildup in the muscles • Increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy used by the muscles for movement • Increase lymph flow to remove waste products to reduce swelling • Minimize muscle oscillation, the vibrations that ripple through your body on impact that cause muscle damage and microtrauma • Provide comfort, by alleviating the symptoms associated with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

  12. Is Running in Compression Shorts Right for You? Trying to decide if you should wear compression shorts while running is a matter of personal preference. But some of the purported benefits are hard to ignore. Pros: • Improved circulation and reduced swelling • Improved aerodynamics • Support for joints and reduced impact • Increased thermoregulation

  13. Many athletes feel that wearing compression pants after a run helps to reduce inflammation and swelling, by increasing lymph flow. Swelling after a run is common and slows down recovery time. If you're a runner looking to shave fractions of a second off your time, you want any advantage you can get. Being more aerodynamic with less resistance from your clothing can increase your speed, even if only ever so slightly.

  14. Running is a high-impact sport. Your feet hit the ground with each stride, creating great strain on your muscles and joints. This force has an oscillating effect, causing soft tissue vibrations, damage, and muscle fatigue. Muscle oscillation can lead to injury. Compression shorts can reduce muscle oscillation and offer added support to your joints.

  15. Cons: • Discomfort from the tight fit • Performance benefits are marginal • Not all compression shorts are the same

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