Infrared vs Compression

What is Infrared ?

Infrared works by converting wasted energy into infrared light and then emitting it back into our bodies. Rather than re-explain the technology, here’s the already comprehensive explanation from our website…

What is Compression?

Compression garments work by compressing the skin and muscle tissues. The claim then is that this acts as a form of low-level massage and helps to improve local blood flow in the localised areas, which then has a knock-on effect of improving exercise form, tissue health, reduced feelings of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and even improving sporting performance.

Our KYnergy® Infrared embedded fabrics feature specially designed fibres which contain carefully selected natural minerals. These minerals are selected for their ability to absorb otherwise wasted energy from the wearer and surrounding light. The energy is then converted it into a targeted region of the infrared light spectrum, which causes an array of positive biological changes.

Our KYnergy® Infrared technology absorbs the natural shorter wavelength, higher energy radiation that is given off by our own bodies and elements such as visible light in our natural surroundings, and the minerals in our fibres convert it into infrared light which is then emitted back into our bodies.

 

What Effects Does KYMIRA® Infrared Technology Have on the Wearer?

Strength and Power Increase

One of the benefits of infrared is an improvement in strength and power. In a study by Gordon et al (2019) [1], wearing infrared garments improved grip strength by 12.44%. This localised strength improvement could be easily transferred across other areas of the body if infrared was worn in other areas.

Endurance Improvements

Thanks to the improvement of blood flow attributed to the infrared technology, one would correctly assume that it would benefit endurance athletes as well. Studies have shown that at lower intensities cyclists wearing infrared consume less oxygen, making them more efficient and able to perform better for longer [2]. These benefits are applicable across all endurance events.

Local Blood Flow Enhancements

A key component of exercise performance and post-exercise recovery is blood flow. Blood is the mechanism via which recovery agents are delivered and exercise-induced toxins are removed. Use of infrared technology has been shown to improve local blood flow in medical patients [3] and the same mechanisms are present in athletes, helping to improve post-exercise recovery.

Recovery Impacts

Recovery is so much more than just repairing soft tissues after exercise – there’s a neural and hormonal element as well as structural. In the case of infrared, there is evidence [4] that it helps to stimulate a neuromuscular recovery from exercise as well, which is incredibly important for athletes who use strength as well as speed in their sports. Further hormonal and muscular recovery evidence can be found here [5].

DOMS

One of the key elements of post exercise recovery is the removal of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). This muscle pain that is brought about by microtears in the muscle caused by exercise and movement can be debilitating and have an adverse effect on performance. Infrared has been show conclusively to be an effective method in both helping to prevent DOMS and remove the symptoms post exercise [6].

Academic References

[1] https://www.hilarispublisher.com/abstract/effect-of-shirts-with-42-celliantsupregsup-fiber-on-tcposub2sub-levels-and-grip-strength-in-healthy-subjects-a-placeboco-22057.html

[2] https://revitalife.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Apparel-with-Far-Infrared-Radiation-for-Decreasing-an-Athlete’s-Oxygen-Consumption-during-Submaximal-Exercise-Jay-T.-Worobets-2015.pdf

[3] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1099800420923730

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4493260/

[5] https://www.scitechnol.com/peer-review/effects-of-far-infrared-heat-on-recovery-in-power-athletes-iTXW.php?article_id=3736

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4993144/

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4306786/

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5072498/

[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28434152/

[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23006643/