Head out for a run in your worn out sneakers, or synthetic t-shirt? Ignoring your fitness wear or donning the wrong clothes for your chosen sport will increase your risk of injury, and reduce your performance.
Whether you plan to head to the gym for strength training, or the pool for a swim, you must dress right. Style aside, appropriate exercise gear will improve your performance and prevent exercise injuries.
Wrong shoes and clothes impact your performance
Any sport, and workouts carry the possibilities of falls, injuries, and extreme swings in body temperature. Believe it or not, wearing inappropriate gear is a major cause of accidents in sports and physical training. So do get your clothing fundamentals right, before you set out to do your thing.
Get the dress code right
Each sport has a specific dress code. For example, you can’t play tennis in your pajamas or swim in your baggy shorts. In fact, every aspect of your clothing- from the type of fabric to the design and fit- impacts your play and performance. Ill fitting clothes and footwear are passe, so do your homework and get your choices in order.
Well-fitted compression garments are scientifically designed to provide comfort and safety during workouts. Such fitness clothing applies balanced pressure on the body, and promotes blood circulation to muscles. In addition, this facilitates easy mobility of muscles, and promotes fast recovery.
Tips to help you make the right choice
- Wear a cap when working out or running outdoors in the sun.
- Invest in a pair of gloves to protect your palms from developing calluses while you lift weights.
- Choose the right sports shoes for your particular sport and make sure they fit properly, to avoid blisters and bites, and protect you from injuries in muscles and joints. Like you can’t wear your running shoes on a soccer field, similarly you can’t run a marathon in your gym shoes. Activities that involve jumping or heavy jerky movements require shoes that have shock absorbers and cushions for the feet.
- Choose fitness gear that suits the kind of temperature of your workout environment.
- Avoid wearing synthetic garments. A t-shirt made of non-breathable fabric stores heat, resulting in excessive sweating and discomfort.
- Activities that involve jumping or heavy jerky movements call for shoes with shock absorbers and cushions for the feet.
- Ladies, please get fitted for a sports bra. You risk frontal damage and discomfort otherwise!