Do Workout Clothes Actually Affect Performance?
You've heard the phrase "dress for success" before, but while it's a good motto to have professionally, does it also apply to the world of fitness? Short answer: Yes.
There's actually a reason (other than simply looking good) that fancy workout tanks, leggings, and sneakers have become the standard at the gym and in the studio. So stop feeling guilty and stuff that buyer's remorse back in the shopping bag-those printed leggings are well worth your hard-earned cash. Here's why.
1. The Right Athletic Clothing Boosts Confidence
So let's talk about point number one: Why does it matter? Confidence. I talked about that a little bit in there but this really does make a difference. If you believe the clothing you're wearing is going to help you perform better, it actually will.
Study after study has shown, when you believe, when you have that belief, and it's from the field of enclothed cognition, a few other fields as well, but if you believe those shoes are going to make you faster, if you believe that shirt is going to make you be able to feel better, to look better in the gym, if you're confident in it, you're going to feel better.
2. They give your brain a boost
When you threw on that fun graphic tee and cut-out leggings you might have experienced something the experts are calling " enclothed cognition," which refers to a sort of mental shift you experience when you wear certain clothes. So, if you wear a fun new crop top-sports bra hybrid, you might, in turn, feel more "fun" and happy yourself. One study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that clothing influences behavior and attitudes because it carries a symbolic meaning. So, what you wear is actually subconsciously changing how you act.
3. The Right Workout Gear Adds Protection & Prevents Injuries
So we talked about performance. Let's go in to protection. I like and I have a lot of running gear that is longer sleeved, longer legged, reason being I live in Wisconsin. It gets really cold here. And when that icy cold wind hits my legs, hits my arms, I want to have clothing that protects me.
I've got special gloves. I've got even a full mask. So I can go out running. I don't usually go out running when it's below zero. But I will go running in ten-degree weather, 15-degree weather. That's perfectly fine. And because I've got the clothing that protects me from the elements that also does a great job of wicking the moisture away from my body and not freezing up on me.
4. They up the intimidation factor
Still skeptical on the physiological power behind your outfit? Leah Lagos, PsyD, BCB, clinical and sports psychologist, says this phenomenon goes further than just any regular gym session-professional athletes can experience it as well. "An athlete may gain a perceived psychological edge on his opponents by wearing certain outfits or designs," says Lagos. "Research has shown that professional sports teams wearing black uniforms are more aggressive than sports teams wearing non-black uniforms."
If you're not a fan of all black (or don't plan to hit the football field anytime soon), Fader says that "some studies even suggest that teams that wear the color red have an advantage against teams that wear blue."
5. Compression Clothing Can Aid In Recovery After Exercise
So point number five, compression. This is the one I'm going to bring the studies into. So they did a 2013 study over in Germany. And they found that compression clothing actually helps recovery and performance. They did a 2015 study in the United States and they found that there was no effect of compression clothing. So there are a few studies back and forth besides these other ones and what they find is that it's kind of a wash.
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