Compression shorts

[thekingsingh 0]

Are there any benefits to wearing compression shorts while playing hockey?

[sabre09923 0]

I guess there is, since they are supposed to keep your muscles warm, which leads to a reduced chance of injury.

[echi24 1]

i find them comfortable and secure. however, i like wearing tights when i play, so there is no chafing from shinpads. sometimes the compression shorts + tights interfere with the jock's ability to hold you in place, because they are both tight fitting. im considering going with only tights for this season

[cause4alarm 7]

My teammate seems to think they help to alleviate his pulled groin.

Personally, I think time off would be more beneficial to him, but that's besides the point.

[SB39 2]

They can help maintain muscle performance over the course of the game. When you engage in intense exercise, you muscles get engorged with blood to consistantly transfer oxygenated blood. Also, just like when you lift weights, some muscle trauma occurrs where the muscle fibers separate from each other a bit from exertion, and that separation can impede performance. Compression apparel can minimize that performance impediment. They also make your wedding tackle shrink up, but it's hockey, not sex. Overall, I always wear compression shorts playing hockey, and for a lot of workouts I do as well.

Lots of companies make them too, so dont think you have to pay $25 for the UA ones

[TBLfan 25]

compression jock FTW

[DangleSpud 0]

I have been wearing compression shorts, both the ones with the cup built in and the other, for almost 10 years now. They do feel like they have limited my number of groin pulls. That was the reason I had looked into getting them in the first place. I like the comfort as well. I don't know what kind of pant/girdle you wear, but they can make your pants feel a little loose because of the lack of friction (just a side note).

[hyprlte 0]

i love the feel of compression shorts when playing.. it also gives me more movement

[chikinpotpie 138]

I wear the easton one. It's not bead but the shock doc seems a little better because the cup is on the outside. In the easton the cup in on the inside and it doesn't cradle my gear as much as I would like.

[Chadd 916]

The compression jocks aren't true compression pants. They're snug but aren't tight enough to have any real benefit. I wear them, but only because I prefer the closer fit, not for any benefit that they give me.

[Trooper 8]

They can help maintain muscle performance over the course of the game. When you engage in intense exercise, you muscles get engorged with blood to consistantly transfer oxygenated blood. Also, just like when you lift weights, some muscle trauma occurrs where the muscle fibers separate from each other a bit from exertion, and that separation can impede performance. Compression apparel can minimize that performance impediment. They also make your wedding tackle shrink up, but it's hockey, not sex. Overall, I always wear compression shorts playing hockey, and for a lot of workouts I do as well.

Lots of companies make them too, so dont think you have to pay $25 for the UA ones

I would love to see the research that shows that compression shorts are tight enough to actually hold muscle fibers together...

[Tyler B 0]

They can help maintain muscle performance over the course of the game. When you engage in intense exercise, you muscles get engorged with blood to consistantly transfer oxygenated blood. Also, just like when you lift weights, some muscle trauma occurrs where the muscle fibers separate from each other a bit from exertion, and that separation can impede performance. Compression apparel can minimize that performance impediment. They also make your wedding tackle shrink up, but it's hockey, not sex. Overall, I always wear compression shorts playing hockey, and for a lot of workouts I do as well.

Lots of companies make them too, so dont think you have to pay $25 for the UA ones

I would love to see the research that shows that compression shorts are tight enough to actually hold muscle fibers together...

it keeps your muscles from moving more than they need to and helps with your muscles endurance by taking away that unneeded/unwanted movement by your muscles. i wouldnt say they hold the muscle fibers together...

[kenneth 5]

i think that is along the right lines because Adidas's new line powerweb with Reggie Bush had areas with more compression in certain areas of your body.

[Trooper 8]

I'm sure there were areas that had more compression, etc, and that the companies that manufacture them (warning!) claim that all of this leads to better performance, etc. I like wearing them, they do keep your body temp up, which is obviously a good thing. But just because somebody claims a product does something does not mean it does. Until there is independant research, all claims are nothing more than marketing hype.

And how does "unwanted/unneeded" muscle movement factor into this? Muscles move in one plane. They contract and pull on the tendons that attach them to the bone. That's it.

The internet's great but in some areas it's just a forum for people to spew so-called facts without a shred of evidence to back their claims.

[thekingsingh 0]

I'm sure there were areas that had more compression, etc, and that the companies that manufacture them (warning!) claim that all of this leads to better performance, etc. I like wearing them, they do keep your body temp up, which is obviously a good thing. But just because somebody claims a product does something does not mean it does. Until there is independant research, all claims are nothing more than marketing hype.

And how does "unwanted/unneeded" muscle movement factor into this? Muscles move in one plane. They contract and pull on the tendons that attach them to the bone. That's it.

The internet's great but in some areas it's just a forum for people to spew so-called facts without a shred of evidence to back their claims.

This is why I originally asked the question. The people who make the biggest claims about the benefits of compression shorts are the manufacturers themselves.

From what I've seen, actual research has been undecided on the benefit of compression shorts, other than to say that if players feel they help, that might be enough to confer some benefit.

I was hoping that compression shorts might help against fatigue in the legs, but it looks like I'm just going to have to get in shape :). However, it does seems that those who wear them, like them (obviously). So, perhaps compression shorts might be worth a try.

[Trooper 8]

I'm sure there were areas that had more compression, etc, and that the companies that manufacture them (warning!) claim that all of this leads to better performance, etc.  I like wearing them, they do keep your body temp up, which is obviously a good thing.  But just because somebody claims a product does something does not mean it does.  Until there is independant research, all claims are nothing more than marketing hype.

And how does "unwanted/unneeded" muscle movement factor into this?  Muscles move in one plane.  They contract and pull on the tendons that attach them to the bone.  That's it. 

The internet's great but in some areas it's just a forum for people to spew so-called facts without a shred of evidence to back their claims.

This is why I originally asked the question. The people who make the biggest claims about the benefits of compression shorts are the manufacturers themselves.

From what I've seen, actual research has been undecided on the benefit of compression shorts, other than to say that if players feel they help, that might be enough to confer some benefit.

I was hoping that compression shorts might help against fatigue in the legs, but it looks like I'm just going to have to get in shape :). However, it does seems that those who wear them, like them (obviously). So, perhaps compression shorts might be worth a try.

I'd give them a try, I really like them from a comfort standpoint, but just be realistic as to what benefit they provide.

One last word on marketing and research. Pharmaceutical companies are always caught for misleading claims about their products. This is in an industry that is heavily regulated and lives are on the line. What do you think is going to happen in an industry like sports where that is not the case and companies can make claims without being held accountable?

[Joker518 0]

A few issues back GQ did a story on Sports Medicine that works vs what is just nonsense. One of the topics specifically addressed was compression gear... They noted how Michael Jordan wore compression shorts and believed it helped him jump higher. They also talked to some independent sports doctors who did a study that found the average player jumps higher in compression shorts!

How that relates to hockey performance, I dunno but it was a good read worth looking up... BTW, I wear true compression shorts when I play for the comfort. I can't really claim any other benefit, I'm slow with or without them.

[Tyler B 0]

I'm sure there were areas that had more compression, etc, and that the companies that manufacture them (warning!) claim that all of this leads to better performance, etc. I like wearing them, they do keep your body temp up, which is obviously a good thing. But just because somebody claims a product does something does not mean it does. Until there is independant research, all claims are nothing more than marketing hype.

And how does "unwanted/unneeded" muscle movement factor into this? Muscles move in one plane. They contract and pull on the tendons that attach them to the bone. That's it.

The internet's great but in some areas it's just a forum for people to spew so-called facts without a shred of evidence to back their claims.

muscles will shake from impacts... the compression shorts helps limit this shaking... lessening fatigue on the muscle groups that the compression garment is focused on.... weather it makes this fatigue significantly less is up to the wearer of the garment to decide.

and i didnt get any of this from the internet... i learned it in a sports preformance class at my school.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

A few issues back GQ did a story on Sports Medicine that works vs what is just nonsense. One of the topics specifically addressed was compression gear... They noted how Michael Jordan wore compression shorts and believed it helped him jump higher. They also talked to some independent sports doctors who did a study that found the average player jumps higher in compression shorts!

How that relates to hockey performance, I dunno but it was a good read worth looking up... BTW, I wear true compression shorts when I play for the comfort. I can't really claim any other benefit, I'm slow with or without them.

well, a decent vertical will obviously factor into plyometrics. So I'm guessing it would be beneficial. I've never played in compression shorts, but I do wear the long sleeve shirts... I like the rubberized padding to hold your pads in place.

[sn1per 0]

I've been wearing compression shorts for the past couple of years and I do remember it feeling a bit odd at first but now I love it. I had the Itech ones first and just a couple of months ago, I got the Jock Plus ones. The JP ones don't seem to have as much compression to them but i think they feel great. So give it a try. Worst comes to worst, you haven't really invested a chunk of money into the piece of gear like a new pair of top of the line skates and it may make your game better or more comfortable.