Well, actually, I guess they are technically Under Armour's, but Phelps claims to wear the suit after workouts, swim meets, and when he sleeps. Either way, this is a pretty cool looking suit in my opinion, and almost want to pick one up, if not for the expensive price tag, just to feel like a superhero.
I have written about the use of compression garments in the past, and their role in performance recovery, although the study I wrote about discussed how compression garments aid in recovery during exercise by improving venous return and oxygen exchange at a cellular level.
Under Armour, on the other hand, claims that their suit helps recovery by reducing water retention in the muscles.
Imagine experiencing 50% less soreness, 50% less fatigue, and 30% more power after a workout or game. That’s exactly what Recharge® was built to give you. When you train or compete, your muscle fibers get damaged and take on water—making you sore. The UA Recharge® Energy Suit with its super-tight compression fit pushes that water out so your muscles recover faster. From world-class triathletes to MMA champions to pro football and soccer players, all kinds of athletes are recovering better and faster with Recharge®.
Imagine experiencing 50% less soreness, 50% less fatigue, and 30% more power after a workout or game. That’s exactly what Recharge® was built to give you. When you train or compete, your muscle fibers get damaged and take on water—making you sore. The UA Recharge® Energy Suit with its super-tight compression fit pushes that water out so your muscles recover faster. From world-class triathletes to MMA champions to pro football and soccer players, all kinds of athletes are recovering better and faster with Recharge®.
As I said, I have read and written about the benefits of compression garments in the past, and even use compression shorts during my workouts on a consistent basis, but these pieces of clothing should be taken with a grain of salt.
Sure, there may be benefits to using compression garments, including quicker recovery and performance enhancements. I am not disputing the fact that there are pros to wearing pieces of equipment such as this, I just think that the costs of such a suit may not yield as many benefits as may be desired, especially for someone who considers themselves a "weekend warrior".
For somebody like a weekend warrior, a well-structured exercise program, coupled with a well-balanced diet will do wonders to increasing performance. In fact, those two factors alone will more than likely place you head and shoulders above your competition.
On the other hand, someone like Michael Phelps may wish to experiment with such equipment, as even having miniscule improvements to his performance times can make the difference between a gold and missing the podium altogether.
Regardless, I always find it interesting and exciting to see just how far scientific advancements combined with human performance can take our levels of athleticism. I am looking forward to the Olympics!
Quote of the day:
"How long should you try? Until."
-Jim Rohn
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