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 on measures of height and body mass and therefore do not take into account individual differences in body shape.
Research has shown that standard sized garments do not provide accurate fit and have considerable variability in the level of compression applied (Hill et al., 2015., Wannup et al., 2016). Therefore for professional athletes seeking the highest level of performance, custom fit is the only choice.
“The players are just completely different shapes and sizes, completely different girths, just absolutely so different! So I think that if we have the opportunity, we should absolutely be making tailored garments for them, it just makes so much sense” (Ian McKeown, former Head of High Performance at Port Adelaide FC).
Benefits on Recovery
Improving the rate of recovery is particularly important when players have a short turnaround between games. 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 (Brown et al., 2017, Hill et al., 2014).
An independent study showed that wearing custom fit compression garments significantly improved the recovery of isometric strength in Rugby players following an exercise induced muscle damage protocol, compared to a sham treatment or off the shelf sports compression leggings (Brown et al., 2022).
When custom fit compression garments were worn in the recovery period, lower body strength measures recovered to 95% and 99% of baseline values at 24 and 48 hours respectively. In contrast, when off the shelf compression garments were worn, strength recovery was significantly impaired at 24 hours and 48 hours, recovering to only 89% and 90% of baseline values (Brown et al., 2022). In fact, that the standard sized compression garments were no more effective than a sham treatment on recovery from muscle damage! (Brown et al., 2022).
Travel benefits
Often professional teams will have to travel on the day of a game, both before and after the game. Wearing compression garments on the outward journey can help players feel ready to perform when they arrive at the game. Teams are often required to travel immediately post game, which may limit the feasibility of other recovery strategies, therefore custom fit compression garments provide a practical solution to optimise recovery during travel.
Why are teams choosing CAPE?
CAPE provide custom fit compression garments based on a 3D body scan of each player. Compression regimes are specific to purpose, with different garments for recovery, travel, performance and rehabilitation. Unlike fashion brands, CAPE garments are medical grade compression garments classified as TGA Class 1 Medical Devices.
Many professional teams in the AFL, NRL, A League, NFL, and NHL are now choosing CAPE custom fit compression garments to gain a competitive edge.
“CAPE’s custom fit provided our players with specific, medical grade compression that helped our players recover from the demands of both travel and training” (Darren Burgess, High Performance Manager, Adelaide Crows, previously Melbourne Demons).
REFERENCES:
- Brown, F., Gissane, C., Howatson, G., van Someren, K., Pedlar, C., & Hill, J. (2017). Compression Garments and Recovery from Exercise: A Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 47, 2245-2267.
- Brown, F, Jeffries, O, Gissane, C, Howatson, G, van Someren, K, Pedlar, C, Myers, T, and Hill, JA. (2022): Custom-fitted compression garments enhance recovery from muscle damage in rugby players. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 212-219
- Hill, J., Howatson, G., van Someren, K., Leeder, J., & Pedlar, C. (2014). Compression garments and recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: a meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med, 48, 1340-1346.
- Hill, J., Howatson, G., Someren, K., Davidson, S., & Pedlar, C. (2015). The variation in pressures exerted by commercially available compression garments. Sports Engineering (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.), 18, 115-121.
- Wannop JW, Worobets JT, Madden R, Stefanyshyn DJ. (2016) Influence of Compression and Stiffness Apparel on Vertical Jump Performance. J Strength Cond Res. 30(4):1093-101.
