wear tights for superhero gains

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The results are in and compression garments have been proven to supercharge strength gains

They aren't superhero skivvies, but they're great for slip-on strength. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that powerlifters who trained for 10 weeks while wearing compression garments added nearly 18 kgs to their squat , while lifters who didn't wear them as they trained added only three kgs.

The scientists suggest that the compression design of these garments reduces bloodflow to the muscles in a way that may stimulate hormonal and neural pathways involved in building strength.

Are you more of a cardio guy? In a New Zealand study, fit men who wore compression underwear for 24 hours following aerobic exercise ran faster and felt less fatigued during their next workout than those who didn't don the tights. They also experienced less muscle soreness.

"The extra pressure may affect muscle sensory receptors and change their feedback to your brain in a way that alters performance," says study author Dr Michael Hamline, an exercise scientist at Lincoln University in New Zealand.

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