The right clothing for your workout
EXERCISE gear continues to make its mark on the fashion market as people ensure that their gear is in sync with the latest trends.
And while there’s nothing wrong with that, most people are opting for tight-fitting spandex exercise gear in an attempt to conceal their trouble spots such as belly fat, which many people are conscious about.
But is there appropriate attire for your workout? Rohan Gordon, personal trainer at 360°, says there is.
“Compression clothes or spandex do help your training and even your recovery in many ways. When exercising in spandex or compression clothing, it actually helps your training whether you’re jumping, running or swimming because of the sustained power over the series of repetitions. In other words, the spandex enables these people to keep their strength longer after running, jumping or swimming,” he pointed out.
“Studies show that because the compression holds your muscles in place as you go through impact and power moves, with less body jiggle your muscles are able to be recruited with more ease and comfort. This leads to better use of oxygen in the muscles as oxygen is a fuel source for your muscles. The better and more efficient your oxygen usage is, the longer you’ll be able to last.”
Gordon further explained that this mainly applies to cardio workouts when your body will use oxygen as its main source of sustained energy.
“The compression tights or spandex help the muscles maintain more power and activity because the compression helps with more efficient muscle recruitment. So the right muscles are used better and that helps them better use oxygen and its energy potential,” he said.
The personal trainer added: “You could wear compression spandex leggings and even a shirt after a workout to assist with workout recovery. While this sounds great, it is not practical for many people. In some cases you can wear the spandex under your work clothes but it might cause muscle soreness in the days to come.”
As to whether cotton would be a better choice than spandex for exercise gear, Gordon said spandex helps to draw sweat away from the body and move it to the outer surface, while cotton traps the sweat.
Gordon explained that while spandex gear may cost a bit more than your average cotton T-shirt, it will last longer and keep you comfortable and cooler.
“Don’t get me wrong. Cotton is comfortable; but after doing workouts in cotton clothing, perspiration tends to get trapped in these materials, weighing down your garment and clinging to your skin, making you feel uncomfortable. In summer, that can prevent your body from cooling properly,” he said.
He pointed out that cotton socks can also trap moisture and cause blisters, while polyester-blend socks may help prevent them.
What about the health of your skin while sweating in spandex clothing? Skin specialist Dr Neil Persadsingh said that people rarely get allergies from sweating in spandex clothing, but when it does present there is redness of the skin, scaling and itching.
“This might be on the arms, elbows, knees, armpits, groin area or buttocks,” he said. “Also, more females than males tend to have these reactions as well as overweight people and those with sensitive skin.”
Dr Persadsingh added that in order to prove that it’s an irritation from the material, a patch test should be conducted and treatment administered.
If you have sensitive skin, Dr Persadsingh said it is best to wear loose-fitting clothing that will not cause irritation from heat or friction.
