Category: Athletes

With the start of the NRL season underway and the AFL season just days away, we look into how team sport athletes can use custom fit compression to get a competitive edge. The importance of custom fit compression Within a professional sports team, there are players of all different shapes and sizes. Therefore the only way to ensure each player receives optimal compression is to have garments custom fitted based on a 3D scan. Custom fit provides the highest level of precision with no two garments sized exactly the same. Standard sized (off the shelf) compression garments are based purely

Many devices and modalities are used by athletes to facilitate recovery, however nothing provides greater value for money than custom fit compression. Here’s why: Research has shown that wearing custom fit compression garments results in faster recovery of lower body strength in rugby players following exercise induced muscle damage. When custom fit compression garments were worn, recovery of lower body strength was 10% greater than off the shelf compression or no compression. Lower body strength performance returned to baseline values after 24 hours with custom fit compression however was still impaired after 48 hours when commercially available garments were worn

CAPE are more than just another compression brand. CAPE garments are medical grade compression garments custom fitted to each individual based on a 3D scan. This ensures that elite athletes are provided with professional compression garments that actually work! CAPE Bionics Other compression brands Medical grade compression – TGA class 1 medical device. No medical grade accreditation. Individually designed based on a 3D scan of each athelete. Generic sizing based on measures of height and weight. Customised to each individual athlete – One size garment fits one athlete. Athletes from a large range of height and weight are assigned the

For many years athletes have been using ice baths (cold water immersion) to enhance recovery. Ice is also commonly used in the treatment of acute sporting injuries. However recent research has questioned the use of ice for recovery purposes and injury management. So could this be the end of the ice age?    Use of ice for the treatment of sporting injuries  Ice is widely used in the treatment of sporting injuries on the assumption that it reduces inflammation and speeds up the healing process. However, there is little evidence to support the use of ice in the management of

The use of compression garments originated in the medical industry as a means to treat conditions such as burns, deep vein thrombosis, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency. Compression garments have been shown to improve circulation, increase venous return and reduce oedema. More recently the physiological impact of compression garments have been used by athletes with the intention of enhancing recovery by reducing inflammation and muscle soreness.    What is the difference between sports and medical grade compression?  For compression garments to be effective, the correct pressure must be applied to the skin. Recent research showed that medical grade compression socks exhibited

Our Sports Physiologist Dr Annette Eastwood recently travelled to Hawaii to compete in the Ironman World Championships. We caught up with Annette to see how CAPE custom fit compression assisted with her travel and recovery. Travel The flight to Hawaii was almost 10 hours during which time I used the custom fit calf sleeves. I was amazed that I didn’t have any swelling in my feet or ankles at all, and my legs felt great when I walked off the plane. I went for a run when I arrived and had no stiffness or soreness in my calves which was

Commercially available compression garments (off the shelf garments) are sized to an athlete based on measures of height and weight.  By looking at the research into the pressure exerted by these garments, it’s clear why some athletes may not be receiving any benefit from commercially available compression garments and why custom fit would provide more accurate compression and more consistent benefits.   TITLE: The variation in pressures exerted by commercially available compression garments. Hill, J., Howatson, G., Someren, K., Davidson, S., & Pedlar, C. (2015). Sports Engineering (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.), 18, 115-121.   Background Commercially available compression

CAPE founder and CEO Dr James Waldie has spent over 18 years researching compression. His initial research with NASA involved developing compression suits for astronauts travelling to space! Using the scientific principles from his early research, Dr Waldie has bought space science back down to earth, creating the most scientific compression garments both on and off the planet! Benefits of compression garments for travel Air travel can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other circulatory problems due to prolonged periods of reduced mobility. Compression garments have been shown to reduce the incidence of DVT, superficial vein thrombosis

CAPE produces a special sleeved garment, individually-sized from 3D athlete scans, to impose a unique and optimum pressure for either performance, recovery, rehab or travel benefit. Proprietary compression regimes and wearing protocols have been developed in conjunction with leading sports scientists, and the compression accuracy and physiological benefit proven through independent testing. CAPE is accredited as a Class I Medical Device and is contracted alongside off-the-shelf compression sports apparel. There are four types of compression regime that CAPE engineers for elite sport: Travel Active/Performance Recovery Rehab  Compression works, but it must be custom-fitted with specific pressure regimes for genuine and

Custom fit compression is a new world of compression for elite athletes. Sized specifically to each individual to ensure accurate fit and optimum compression regimes every time. We take a closer look at an independent study comparing the effects of custom fit v commercial (off the shelf) compression garments on recovery from muscle damage.   TITLE: Custom-Fitted Compression Garments Enhance Recovery From Muscle Damage in Rugby Players. Brown, F, Jeffries, O, Gissane, C, Howatson, G, van Someren, K, Pedlar, C, Myers, T, and Hill, JA. (2022): J Strength Cond Res. 36(1): 212-219.   Background: Compression has been shown to enhance

The effects of compression garments on performance and recovery have been widely researched over many years. So, what is the current research telling us about the effectiveness of sports compression garments, and what is the future of athletic compression wear?     Recovery   Research has shown that compression garments worn during recovery may assist recovery of power, strength, and endurance, as well as muscle damage and feelings of muscle soreness. These findings have been supported by the results of recent meta analyses (Brown et al., 2017, Hill et al., 2014) in which the findings of many research studies were analysed collectively. 

Compression garments have been widely used by soccer players for many years. We take a look into the demands of the game, competition schedules and how compression garments can assist soccer players with performance, recovery, and busy travel schedules. Demands of professional soccer The physiological demands of a professional soccer match are high. It has been reported that professional soccer players on average cover 10-12 km during a game at various different intensities (Di Salvo et al., 2013). On average, during a high-level soccer game, players engage in physical activities of high intensity every 60 seconds and can perform up

Whilst you might think astronauts and elite athletes are a world apart, they do have one thing in common. Both can benefit from wearing compression garments! CAPE Bionics have revolutionised athletic compression wear by using scientific principles from the design of spacesuits to produce the most advanced compression garments both on and off the planet! The application of Space Science to Sports Science CAPE Bionics founder Dr James Waldie has spent over 20 years researching and designing compression suits for astronauts. He was involved with a number spacesuit programs with MIT, NASA and the European Space Agency, and developed his

Compression garments have been worn by runners for many years but what does the research say about compression garments for running performance and recovery and why is custom fit so important?   Benefits of compression for running Research has shown that compression garments can have a positive effect on markers of athletic performance and recovery. A systematic review of 32 studies into the effects of compression clothing on running performance and recovery showed that runners may improve variables related to endurance performance when compression garments are worn (Engel et al., 2016). This is due to improvements in running economy, biomechanical