Compression Apparel and the Linus Blanket Syndrome

I have always had an addictive personality. If something tastes good, sounds good, looks good, or feels good I will go all in until I become the definition of the word gluttony, which doesn't just apply to food.   Give me a great song on my Ipod and I will put it on loop until I never want to hear the song again. Give me a slice of cake and I will make that thing disappear or keep eating until I get hives. Give me a great-feeling compression top and I will want to wear it during every aerobic and anaerobic activity. Now, let me remind folks of the cliche: too much of anything is a bad thing. I want to pass on a bit of information that I received during the healing process of my back that I have further evidenced during recent workouts.

As of late I have become a huge fan of 2XU compression tops for almost all my fitness and health-related activities. Originally I wanted a compression top for my shoulders as I decided to move to a larger paddle blade. My wife got me one for Christmas and while it was too cold to get out on the lake I immediately put the top to use at the gym in order to get a feel for it. The feeling I experienced was quite familiar and after some analysis, maybe not the best idea for excessive use.

My first back brace after the herniated disc was nothing more than a compression band to go around my torso. The second doctor I saw during consultations, while undergoing the healing process and physical therapy exercises, warned me about wearing the brace too much. He said my muscles would get used to the physical activity with aid of the pressure created by the brace, which would not be very beneficial to the healing and strengthening process in the long run. I trusted him and worked hard at trying to balance the time exercising with and without the brace. This proved to be very difficult. Exercising while trying to heal required an acute attention to the details going on within the body, especially while trying to find that balance. I had not yet learned to trust my own instincts and constantly lived in fear as I tried to not only get well but get better. Wearing the brace felt incredibly good and boosted my confidence; not wearing the brace gave me the shakes, but was better for me in the long run. I was not a fan of having to decide when to wear and when not to. Even months after the injury and when I was feeling much better, weening myself away from wearing the brace was not an easy task.

Compression tops feel so good that I want to wear one anytime my heart rate goes above 85. In such a short amount of time I have quickly grown accustomed to that comfortable feeling encompassing my body when I stand under the chin-up bar looking svelte in my 2XU (it's like male Spanx!). When at the gym without wearing my 2XU and facing a set of 8-10 pull ups my confidence lacks. My body craves the compression like it used to crave a cigarette with morning coffee. I remembered what that doctor told me 3 years ago about wearing the brace too much and now need to be more careful when it comes to the use of compression as an aid for exercise. Too much of anything is never a good thing!

I am sure there are plenty of scientific and/or psychological theories associated with the body and compression tops that are both pro and con but that material is far beyond my research capabilities. This entry is just a little heads up/warning. I am only speaking of the possible effects from excess that I have experienced and wanted to pass such information along.

Basically: I don't want my muscles to rely on a compression top in order to perform at their peak during any activity. I am not against compression tops at all. I still plan on using them, especially in SUP races. As I head to the gym today I am going to wear one, but that is only my because my back is a little sore from being on my feet for several days in a row bartending. My Linus Blanket Syndrome has both physical and psychological justifications this morning. Ideally, the next time I go to the gym I won't think twice about going WITHOUT wearing a compression top. I want my muscles to move and react at 100% no matter what I'm wearing. Besides, the dream is to be wearing no top at all in warm sunny weather isn't it!!??

Take Care and Be Well!