I wear compression shirts when training jiu jitsu/muay thai. They are amazing for wicking away sweat and keeping you cool. You simply can't go back to cotton t-shirts which soak up sweat and get heavy.<p>However, how do these garments help keep you warm? I was under the impression that their breathability exposes you to outside temperature more efficiently (which is usually cooler than your body temp).
Compression garments aren't worn by athletes just to keep warm. There has been a hypothesis for years now that compression garments improve performance, speed up recovery, and/or help with injury prevention. That's why I wore compression sleeves a couple months ago for Ironman Cozumel, where it was 85 degrees and I didn't need any help keeping warm.<p>I realized when I got started in endurance sports a couple years ago that sports are full of advice that somebody tried out and it became doctrine without scientific evidence to support it. Studies like this are key to prove or disprove that conventional wisdom.
Over a decade ago I started developing serious, chronic RSI issues in my hands and wrists due to keyboard/mouse time. I tried changing seating position, etc, and it helped a little.<p>What really helped though was getting some handeeze gloves. They are fingerless, snug fitting lycra gloves with a double layer of lycra for the cuff. Don't know exactly how they work, but it sounds like it could be a similar principle, and they helped a lot.
I tried to wear a compression shirt for Golf once and it was the worst round of my life. I literally ripped the thing off at the 11th hole.<p>The thing about compression garments that I learned a good lesson that day is they restrict movement. Reason I guess you don't see any pro golfers use them or NBA players.
On Friday when I cycled home from work, I wore a compression shirt under my cycling jersey for the first time. When I arrived home, I had drunk less than half the water I did the previous trip. This is anecdotal at best, but I'm going to wear it again on the next ride.