When working out or taking part in athletic activities, there are certain pieces of equipment that can help you along the way. One type of equipment that continues to gain in popularity are compression garments, including compression shorts. Compression shorts provide several benefits to their users, ranging from injury prevention to possibly even indirect benefits on weight loss goals.
Definition
Compression shorts are a form of undergarment often worn by people playing sports or taking part in other physical activities. Typically these garments cover from the lower or mid thigh of the body up to the waist and are snug fit tightly against the body. Compression shorts are made from stretchy materials such as spandex, which allow the shorts to move and stretch comfortably during physical activity.
Types
There are several different types of compression shorts available on the market. First, there are separate types of compression shorts for men and women, as men need more support in the crotch area of the shorts. Different sports may provide altered compression shorts made specifically for the game. For example, in softball and baseball, compression shorts double as sliding shorts providing extra padding to protect the body while sliding. Compression garments also go beyond shorts with many brands providing compressions shirts, socks and full tights.
Function
Compression shorts have many functions in regards to working out and taking part in physical activity. For example, compression shorts are often made of material capable of wicking sweat away from the body, helping the body stay cool and dry during intense workout sessions. The shorts may also work to protect the body ranging from injury prevention by placing even pressure on major muscle groups such as the quadriceps and hamstrings, helping to prevent vascular pooling. There may also be other intensive benefits such as reducing impact force in sports like football by as much as 27 percent, suggests a 2003 study published in the "Journal of Sports Sciences." For men, compression shorts also provide a replacement for the jockstrap, helping keep the genitalia in place.
In Relation to Weight Loss
Compression shorts do not have any direct effects on weight loss. Although they may indirectly affect your ability to lose weight, they do not increase your calorie burn, which is necessary to increase overall weight loss effectiveness.
Indirect Benefits for Weight Loss
Although compressions shorts do not specifically create or contribute directly to weight loss, they may provide the support and advantage needed to more comfortably complete workouts by wicking away sweat from the body, preventing undergarments from riding up while working out, and helping prevent chafing or rashes from developing between the thighs due to sweat and skin rubbing together. This may make working out more enjoyable, making you more likely to work out more often and for longer periods of time, influencing the amount of weight loss you are able to achieve.
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