A generation ago, any self-respecting athlete who took part in contact sports wore a jock strap. Studies show that athletes are not only eschewing the jock strap in favor of compression shorts, but many never even heard of the predecessor unless it is part of a story told by their father or grandfather. Compression shorts provide uniform support to the hamstring, thighs and groin area. They also provide warmth to those muscles and that helps prevent pulls and strains. Compression shorts also help provide protection from skin irritations like chafing or rashes. They are especially valuable in this area for the high-performance athlete who employ quick, repetitive movements that lead to skin irritations. Compression shorts, much like their predecessors, do not provide any athletic advantages. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s, coaches would regularly tell athletes that wearing a jock strap helped prevent sports hernias. Physicians and medical studies have dismissed that contention and compression shorts manufacturers do not foster that belief in their advertisements.
What to Look for
It's all about the fit. If compression shorts are too loose, they won't adequately warm the area and help prevent strains and pulls. If they are too tight, a completely different set of problems results. Constriction can slow down blood flow which can lead to pain, injury and poor performance. This should be avoided at all costs. Comfort is the single biggest factor. If an athlete puts them on and can play his sport without thinking about the compression shorts, they are worth wearing.
Athletes will also want shorts that will wick away perspiration to avoid lugging around extra water weight, particularly in extremely hot conditions. Compression shorts can also provide outstanding support for those who are rehabbing from groin, back, hamstring and back injuries.
Common Pitfalls
Athletes cannot expect compression shorts to protect them from contact injuries to the groin area. The plastic cup has long been advised by coaches and trainers to provide protection in those cases, but even that device has waned in popularity over the years. Joe Skiba, the assistant equipment manager of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, told Slate.com that very few players wear cups anymore, because they are cumbersome. Compression shorts will keep the groin, hamstring and thigh muscles in alignment with a limited amount of friction. This will help lower injury frequency but will not eliminate it.
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